THE Gunnedah community has thrown its support behind the region’s drought-stricken farmers by raising more than an estimated $52,000 over the weekend. At two separate fundraisers on Friday and Saturday night, locals pitched-in what they could and helped raise much needed funds for struggling local farmers. The Courthouse Hotel played host to the first fundraiser with a charity auction on Friday night, followed by a community market day at Wolseley Park on Saturday. Fundraising co-ordinator, William Price, said the events exceeded his early expectations. “Mate to be honest I’m lost for words,” Mr Price said. “When I started fundraising about three or four weeks ago, I was hoping to raise about $10,000, but where we have ended up is absolutely unreal. “I couldn’t be happier with how the two fundraising events went.” Hundreds of locals flocked to the two fundraisers across the weekend, with a final amount of donations still unknown. “At this stage, I think it’s around the $52,000 mark,” Mr Price said. “However, I don’t know that for certain and I think there is still a lot of money to be counted. “Honestly, I am blown away by how much we have raised and the number of people who came to both events, really it was amazing.” Read More: The fundraising effort comes as the state government announced an additional $500 million in emergency drought relief funding. Fellow fundraiser and Gunnedah Rotary 2380, president, Stacey Cooke said the funds were a sign of growing support for local farmers. “Both of the weekend’s fundraising events went incredibly well,” Mrs Cooke said. “I think the help from the government is overdue and really it is about time, I think now it is about getting out to those who need the help as quickly as possible.” Mrs Cooke said Rotary 2380 would now work in with Mr Price in distributing the funds to local farmers. “At the moment we are brainstorming the best ways to distribute the funds raised locally and to those who need it,” Mrs Cooke said. “It was so great to see so many local businesses and groups such as the Gunnedah Men’s Shed get behind the cause. “That’s why we will sit down and discuss the best way to make sure the money goes to our local farmers and specifically those in need in the next few days.” Mr Price said the fundraising efforts would continue. “We have organised through Sign Print Stitch to have some t-shirts, caps and other things made up for people to buy directly from their shop,” he said. “They have offered to donate those, so all of the profits of those will go straight to the cause and help local farmers.”
THE Gunnedah community has thrown its support behind the region’s drought-stricken farmers by raising more than an estimated $52,000 over the weekend.
At two separate fundraisers on Friday and Saturday night, locals pitched-in what they could and helped raise much needed funds for struggling local farmers.
The Courthouse Hotel played host to the first fundraiser with a charity auction on Friday night, followed by a community market day at Wolseley Park on Saturday.
Fundraising co-ordinator, William Price, said the events exceeded his early expectations.
“Mate to be honest I’m lost for words,” Mr Price said.
“When I started fundraising about three or four weeks ago, I was hoping to raise about $10,000, but where we have ended up is absolutely unreal.
“I couldn’t be happier with how the two fundraising events went.”
Hundreds of locals flocked to the two fundraisers across the weekend, with a final amount of donations still unknown.
“At this stage, I think it’s around the $52,000 mark,” Mr Price said.
“However, I don’t know that for certain and I think there is still a lot of money to be counted.
“Honestly, I am blown away by how much we have raised and the number of people who came to both events, really it was amazing.”
The fundraising effort comes as the state government announced an additional $500 million in emergency drought relief funding.
Fellow fundraiser and Gunnedah Rotary 2380, president, Stacey Cooke said the funds were a sign of growing support for local farmers.
“Both of the weekend’s fundraising events went incredibly well,” Mrs Cooke said.
“I think the help from the government is overdue and really it is about time, I think now it is about getting out to those who need the help as quickly as possible.”
Mrs Cooke said Rotary 2380 would now work in with Mr Price in distributing the funds to local farmers.
“At the moment we are brainstorming the best ways to distribute the funds raised locally and to those who need it,” Mrs Cooke said.
“It was so great to see so many local businesses and groups such as the Gunnedah Men’s Shed get behind the cause.
“That’s why we will sit down and discuss the best way to make sure the money goes to our local farmers and specifically those in need in the next few days.”
Mr Price said the fundraising efforts would continue.
“We have organised through Sign Print Stitch to have some t-shirts, caps and other things made up for people to buy directly from their shop,” he said.
“They have offered to donate those, so all of the profits of those will go straight to the cause and help local farmers.”
