It will be held at Westport Club from 6.30pm. Cost for the cocktail dress event is $110 inclusive of canapés and drink on arrival, three course meal and entertainment.

Part of the Aspect Hunter School, the local satellite class is the only autism-specific class room in the Port Macquarie region.

The school currently caters for 36 students on the autism spectrum, ranging in age from 5 to 16. 

Principal of Hunter Aspect School, Lara Cheney, said the gala event hoped to raise awareness about autism and money for the satellite class in Port Macquarie.

“Aspect’s Port Macquarie class started in 2010 and has slowly grown over that eight year period,” she said.

“We are hoping to raise funds to improve facilities including a Food Technology Kitchen at our High School site and an outdoor learning environment at our Primary School site.

“The inaugural dinner will help us to support a different brilliant, understanding, engaging and celebrating the strengths, interests and aspirations of people on the autism spectrum.”

Sue Pogson has a son who attends the Port Macquarie class and says without the help of the Aspect school and the amazing teaching staff, her son would never have been able to successfully interact in a classroom or playground setting.

“Krischan was diagnosed with autism when he was four years old and has been attending the class since 2017,” she said.

“Having a school that is autism-specific is great, it has helped him become a more settled and less anxious boy. 

“The care and support that Aspect has offered Krischan is above and beyond what other schools could have done for him. 

“We are hoping that the community gets behind the gala night to help and support such an amazing school and the kids that need it so much.

Tickets for the gala dinner are available at www.autismspectrum.org.au/PortMacquarieGalaDinner