IN PICTURES: Dolled up attendees at Community Bank Albany All-Abilities Ball dance the night away

A wonderfully inclusive event, which allows people to let their hair down in a safe and well-catered for space, was a hit for its sophomore year, according to its stoked organisers.

Organisers Caroll and Brian Appleby said the Community Bank Albany All-Abilities Ball, hosted at Retravision Stadium on Saturday evening, was a huge success.

“Last year we had 116 people coming, and this year we had 136 people — unfortunately we had to turn away about a dozen people at the door because we didn’t have room as capacity is determined by wheelchairs,” Mr Appleby said.

“It was amazing though to see how excited everyone was and the enthusiasm.

“Participants were lining up waiting outside at 3.40pm for a ball that didn’t start until 5pm.”

The Appleby’s created the event last year after being inspired by a similar event their 19-year-old daughter Ashlyn enjoyed in Queensland.

The evening kicked off with a sundowner for family members, friends, sponsors, and Albany dignitaries to see participants dressed in their finery and take photographs.

Special video welcomes were sent in by Wildlife Warrior Robert Irwin and former yellow Wiggle Emma Memma, before the lights dimmed and DJ Lima ramped up the party.

“The dance floor was filled non-stop from the time the meal ended to when we pulled up stumps to go home,” Mr Appleby said.

Those who needed a bit of quiet time could enjoy the chill zone and sensory tent set up by Uplyft, and everyone left with a bag of goodies containing fidgets, a community bank money box, and sweet treats.

He said the event brought out the best in the community, with makeup artists and hairdressers — including students from South Regional TAFE Albany — volunteering their time to doll up attendees beforehand, and some coming from far afield to assist.

“We got a call from a woman who is a hairdresser in Brisbane last Thursday who said she’d love to help out,” Mr Appleby said.

“She flew over and got the bus down to Albany and helped out with the hairdressing all day before jumping on a catamaran to Adelaide.

“That’s the sort of thing the ball is doing, just generating that community spirit and bringing out that extra bit of niceness in people.”