Priority Printing Solutions today confirmed its support for spring racing’s ‘Late Mail Luncheon’ and fundraising activities that will benefit former Test cricketer Tony Dell’s Stand Tall 4 Post Traumatic Stress Foundation and Australia’s returned service men and women suffering from post traumatic stress.

July 2014

For nearly a decade, Priority Printing Solutions has been a Foundation Sponsor of the premier luncheon event of the spring racing carnival. The annual ‘Late Mail Luncheon®.’

Held on the eve of the Derby each year, just 4 days out from the famed Melbourne Cup, the Late Mail Luncheon® each year attracts an extraordinary group of thoroughbred racing’s elite plus a star studded guest list that includes sporting stars, media and television personalities, entertainment celebrities and politicians who descend on the Sofitel Melbourne On Collins to celebrate the start of thoroughbred racing’s showcase – the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

 The luncheon has also become an opportunity for sponsors and guests to support charities and worthy causes with funds raised and distributed by the luncheon recently passing $500,000 in just 9 years.

This years’ lunch is aiming to raise the bar even further with a goal of $100,000 on the day to support the “Stand Tall 4 Post Traumatic Stress Foundation” which was set up by former Test Cricketer and Vietnam veteran Tony Dell to help raise awareness of post traumatic stress and its impact on our returned service men and women. Funds raised will also go towards funding a national forum on post traumatic stress in June 2015.

Dell is possibly the only Australian to serve in a theatre of war and play Test cricket for the baggy green. A promising Grade and State cricket career was interrupted by Dell’s service in Vietnam in the late 1960’s. When he returned to Australia, he was selected by Sir Donald Bradman to open the bowling alongside Dennis Lillee against England in the final Test Match of the 1970/71 series, the first with Ian Chappell as Captain. His career lasted only a handful of matches and Tony left the game only to be diagnosed with post traumatic stress dome 40 years later.

The inaugural Late Mail Luncheon® in Brisbane held on May 9 recently created history when a unique and extraordinary piece of Australian military history went under the hammer. An extraordinary military-style slouch hat personally autographed by Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC, MG was offered for auction and sold for $28,000 to get the fundraising campaign off the ground.

At the Melbourne Late Mail Luncheon® scheduled for Friday 31 October at the Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, there is an even bigger surprise planned and Priority Printing Solutions have committed both resources and staff to help achieve the target goal of raising $100,000 on the day.

“This is an issue that will only get bigger and harder to deal with as more Australian service men and women return from theatres of war like Afghanistan and try and assimilate back into civilian life” said Priority Printing co-founder Terry Simpson.

“It’s very important that we get behind Tony and the Stand Tall Foundation so that this issue gets the attention it requires and our service men and women get the treatment and support they deserve” he said.

This year’s Late Mail Luncheon® event will be held in the Ballroom of Sofitel Melbourne On Collins on Friday 31 October 2014. Bookings can be made on 0409 473 541 and pre-event donations can be made.