THEY came, they saw, and they got down on the dancefloor – and it was all for a great cause.

That’s the wrap from the Waterfront Cabaret held at the Portland Civic Hall on Saturday night.

About 300 locals, and some from further afield, were in attendance as the fundraising ball made a welcome return to Portland after an absence of some years.

This year the charity was the Stroke Foundation, and while the final tally wasn’t available at the time of going to deadline, it’s sure to be healthy.

Key to the event’s success as a fundraiser was the presence of Collingwood 2010 premiership stars in captain Nick Maxwell and Dane Swan.

The footballers arrived on Friday and Royal Hotel co-licensee Naomi Corcoran said fundraising there with the pair netted more than $2300 for the cause.

Cabaret co-organiser Gail Jaensch also reported substantial donations on Saturday night.

And she was delighted with how it all went.

“The feedback has been amazing,” she said.

“Thank you to the entire community, it was simply the best, the best (ball) ever.

“The two of us(Ms Jaensch and co-organiser Joanne Saunders) went out on a wing and a prayer on this, we didn’t have a lot of sponsorship.

“Times are hard for people in small communities, everyone gets asked all the time, so we decided to pay all of the costs and what’s left over will be donated to the Stroke Foundation.

“Hopefully we’ve also opened a few doors and raised awareness of stroke.”

Tina Turner impersonator Rebecca O’Connor carried on with the Simply the Best theme and almost stole the show on Saturday night with a picture and note-perfect rendition of some of Turner’s biggest hits.

Along with Steve Callanan, a Jimmy Barnes impersonator who was also MC for the night, there was plenty of entertainment.

But perhaps the most emotional part of the night was when Callanan burst into a rendition of John Farnham’s You’re the Voice, as bagpipers Robbie Aberline and Tracey Tennant entered the hall accompanying him and going with Ms Jaensch to the front of the hall – there were more than a few eyes not as dry as they were beforehand.

Maxwell and Swan were also more than happy to pose for photos and sign memorabilia all night.

Guests also dined on meals served by Clock by the Bay, with seven chefs donating their time for the night as the restaurant itself closed..

“It was amazing and I can’t thank them enough,” Ms Jaensch said.

“People are already wanting tables for next year.”

 Ms Jaensch said Maxwell had already indicated he would again take part in another big walk from Melbourne to Portland (with Swan to also walk part of the way) to raise money for the Stroke Foundation – shades of the former Big Red Money Walks of the past.