In March, the Emmanuel City Mission community came together with supporters, friends, and cricket lovers for the much-loved Beyond the Boundary Lunch at the beautiful Queensland Cricketers’ Club (QCC) — and what an inspiring day it was.

Now a regular feature on the ECM calendar, this event brings people together not just for a great afternoon out, but to support a shared mission of dignity, hope, and community for Brisbane’s most vulnerable.

A huge and heartfelt thank you goes to QCC CEO Lachlan Furnell and the entire team, who once again hosted this event with generosity, warmth, and style. Your ongoing support makes all the difference, and we’re incredibly grateful for the way you continue to champion our work.

A Day of Storytelling and Heart

Guests were treated to an entertaining and thought-provoking program, featuring NRL great Steve Renouf, with the always brilliant Ben Davis as MC. Together they kept the crowd laughing, reflecting, and leaning in to every story.

But the most powerful moment came when Ross, one of ECM’s visitors, bravely took the mic to share his story.

Ross spoke from the heart about the challenges of homelessness, and the role Emmanuel City Mission has played in helping him find stability, community, and dignity. He shared a moving account of Cyclone Alfred, when ECM opened its doors 24/7 for six nights, ensuring no one had to weather the storm alone.

His story was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do, and why continued support from events like this one is so critical.

A Matching Gift That Made All the Difference

We were also incredibly honoured to have long-time ECM supporter and dear friend Brook Monahan from Mosaic Property Group in attendance. In a truly generous act, Brook pledged to match all donations made on the day, doubling the impact and helping raise vital funds to keep our doors open.

Brook’s ongoing commitment to ECM is nothing short of extraordinary — and this powerful gesture was a testament to the kind of leadership and compassion that drives real change.

Thank You for Making it Happen

To everyone who bought a ticket, donated, or entered the raffle, thank you. Your generosity raised vital funds to support ECM’s work and showed our visitors, like Ross, that their lives matter and they’re not alone.

The day was filled with laughter, great food, powerful moments, and a strong sense of community. It was a reminder that when we come together, we can create real, lasting change.

We’re already looking forward to the next Beyond the Boundary Lunch, and we hope to see even more of you there.