Cricketing heroes … Carl Rackemann, Holly Ferling and guest speaker Darren Lehmann

March 1, 2013

Donate local, support local, shop local, sustain local and deliver hope … that’s the message being delivered by the Mayor’s Red Earth South Burnett Flood Appeal.

The latest fundraiser for the appeal was held this morning at the Town Common Hall in Kingaroy where about 80 people gathered at a Mayoral Breakfast to listen to guest speaker, former Test cricketer and current Queensland coach Darren Lehmann.

Lehmann was joined at the microphone by the South Burnett’s latest cricketing hero, Year 12 student Holly Ferling who has only recently returned from India after playing for a triumphant Australian side in the Women’s World Cup.

Guests paid $30 to listen to the speakers talk about their careers and also enjoy a hot breakfast prepared by the Kingaroy Rotary Club.

There were also raffles and an auction.

And the total raised? More than $5000 which will be turned into “South Burnett Dollars” for local farmers and which can only be spent in the South Burnett area.

Master of ceremonies John Carey said he hoped this morning’s breakfast – and other fundraising events planned for the Mayor’s Appeal – would be a beacon of hope for those people who had suffered from the floods.

“Hope fuels and spreads just like a flood …” he said.

Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said the response to the appeal so far had been quite amazing.

“Not only do we want to raise money in the South Burnett, we want to spend it in the South Burnett, too,” he said.

Georgie Somerset, one of the organisers of the Red Earth Foundation which is assisting with the appeal, explained the concept behind the “new” philanthropic group which has actually been meeting for more than two years.

“It’s about giving time, treasure and talent,” she said.

“The people of the South Burnett helping themselves and standing by each other to build a stronger region.”

The next major fundraiser for the appeal is the CROW-FM Radiothon which will be held this Sunday. More than $20,000 worth of items have been donated.

Tickets for the Nissan Micra, which has been donated by Huston Motors to be raffled, are also now on sale at Shoppingworld. People who buy books of tickets will also go into the draw to also win an extra $500 worth of prizes donated by Kingaroy Shoppingworld.

NB. The next Mayoral Breakfast will be held on April 19 at Dusty Hill vineyard at Moffatdale. Proceeds will assist Relay For Life.

UPDATE March 3rd:

The CROW-FM Radiothon planned for Sunday, March 3 has been postponed a week to March 10 due to localised flooding, which has prevented some volunteers from being able to reach the radio station’s offices to man the telephones.

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Darren Lehmann was interviewed on stage by CROW-FM’s Bob Coleman

Emcee John Carey with Georgie Somerset, Red Earth Foundation

Mandy Bishop, Cloyna, and Karen Seiler, from the Red Earth Foundation
The Town Common Hall in Kingaroy was filled this morning for the Mayoral Breakfast

Bruce Groer and Graham Wieden

John Bjelke-Petersen and Col Kratzmann
Cr Damien Tessmann, from Kingaroy Rotary which prepared the breakfast, with Bruce Jarrod (Kingaroy Hotel Motel) and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington

Rob Woodall and Bob Rutten (Stanwell)

Chris and John Box

South Burnett Deputy Mayor Cr Keith Campbell and Anne Beil, Kumbia

Michelle Jones and Bronwyn Barry (SBRC) volunteered their time to help
Dennis Cotter, right, auctioned Brisbane Heat captain James Hopes’ strip for the Mayor’s Red Earth Flood appeal; it raised more than $1100