Liverpool Plains Harness Club charity drive rolls in for last time

The 10^th drive came to a close on Friday night after a farewell dinner at the Attunga Hotel.

The group had completed loop drives in Manilla from Saturday to Tuesday before making the 42km trek to Attunga on Wednesday for more loop drives before the end.

The decision to cease the annual event was made for numerous reasons.

"There's only a few of us that do it and our numbers have been dropping off considerably, mainly because of the drought this year and age; we're all getting older," club president Peter Honeyman said.

"We'll continue to do club drives that don't require too much planning, but we think [the annual charity drive] has run its course."

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Participants travelled from all over the region for the final drive, as well as Goulburn, Gundagai and even as far as Queensland.

During the past 10 years, the drives have raised more than $100,000 for children's charity Royal Far West.

Money is raised from entry fees, games, raffles and donations.

Mr Honeyman said numerous donations had been given on this drive.

"People stop us on the road and give donations. One lady farmer dropped off three bales of hay, which is great because hay is in high demand," he said.

"We auctioned bales off for $40 one night and $50 another night."

The club president said the charity was a very worthwhile cause, and was personal to him.

"They help country kids, so they came out to all the country areas and the schools, and [the doctors] check out the kids and see if they have any problems [with] speech, eyes, teeth and such," he said.

"If they can't treat them there, they send them down to Sydney at Drummond House at Manly, and they keep them there for a couple weeks and treat them.

"I've got a daughter-in-law in Orange who went there when she was young, and they sent her to Sydney for treatment."

Over the years, club members have driven to Tamworth, Gunnedah and numerous areas in the Liverpool Plains shire. Drive organisers have included Bill Greer, Bruce Donnelly, and Mr Honeyman.