Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell, who spoke at the opening ceremony, with Noela Ardrey, Brenda Johanson and Val Elliott, members of the Proston Angels team, who dressed as birthday presents to reflect the “Gift Of Life” theme and the 10th birthday of the South Burnett Relay For Life
October 12, 2015
The huge South Burnett Relay For Life fundraiser for cancer research is over for another year … and organisers are now adding up exactly how much has been raised.
On Sunday morning, the total stood at $129,000 but more money is expected to roll in over the next few weeks.
This is the fifth time in the 10-year history of the South Burnett event that more than $100,000 has been raised.
A record 46 teams turned out at the Kingaroy Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon to take part in the Relay.
A Welcome To Country by Wakka Wakka elder and 2015 Face Of Relay Eric Law began proceedings.
“I am sure my ancestors would say this is something great happening on Wakka Wakka country,” he said.
After speeches by South Burnett Relay for Life president Rowena Dionysius and South Burnett deputy mayor Keith Campbell, Relay Patron Carl Rackemann read the Relay Ode and the traditional Survivors and Carers Walk lap began.
Walkers paused at dusk for the Candlelight ceremony, which remembers friends and family members who have died of cancer, before resuming their laps all night.
Melanoma Awareness Foundation CEO Brett Otto clocked up the longest distance … 201 laps.
For the third year in a row, the Birds Of A Feather team raised the most money, an incredible $9922, and were presented with the Sandy Freeman Memorial Shield.
St Mary’s Catholic College was presented with the Hope Shield for the most raised by a school: $2146 (with another $1500 to bank).
Some other special donations over the weekend included $500 from the Nanango Lions Club and $1100 from Windera-based family business Mon-Dee Coffee 2 Go who operated their coffee van all night during the Relay.
Some of the members of the “Birds Of A Feather” team … for the third year in a row, Birds Of A Feather was presented with the Sandy Freeman Memorial Shield for the team raising the most funds
What would be a 10th birthday celebration without a cake? Relay For Life president Rowena Dionysius with the 2015 “Face of Relay” Eric Law
The Birds Of A Feather team decorated their team tent with an impressive multi-storey cake to celebrate the Relay’s birthday
Getting ready for the Survivors and Carers Walk … the traditional first lap of the RelayCancer survivor and Wakka Wakka elder Eric Law officially cuts the ribbon to get the 2015 South Burnett Relay For Life underwayDarren, Lynda and Joe Geiger, from Kingaroy, line up for the Survivors and Carers Walk lap
Nanango State High School Year 11 students Tiana Collins, from Blackbutt, and Sarah Waters, Nanango
Mon-Dee Coffee 2 Go’s Alan Eagleson made sure there was plenty of coffee available all night for the walkers
South Burnett Regional Council entered three teams, all dressed in hot pink … however the team organisers insisted that Cr Kathy Duff (the original “pink lady”) dress in blue (she made up for it with bright pink lipstick, handbag and shoes!)
Cr Ros Heit, centre, with Susan Harvey and Siri, 6, from Kingaroy’ and Greg Lewis, Blackbutt
Angela and Daniel Ellwood, Ailsa Spiro, and Connor Le Du, 4, all from Murgon
TAFE teacher Jason Ford brought along a quadcopter to shoot aerial photos of the RelayAnd one of the quadcopter shots … the team from Kingaroy TAFE College take a spell (Photo: Jason Ford)Jamie, 8, and Taylor Shoudra, 7, from Kingaroy, added a Mexican flavour to the eventThe Kingaroy Show Society loaned the Relay organisers their tram to help people take part in the Survivors and Carers walkStudents from St Mary’s Catholic College shared a message of hope at the twilight candlelight remembrance ceremony on Saturday nightSilent tributes to lives lost to cancer … hundreds of these illuminated bags lined the showground’s speedway track during the candlelight ceremonyKingaroy Rotary made sure no one missed out on dinner … serving up hamburgers and hot chips
One Response to "$129,000 Raised … And Counting!"
What an amazing effort! Well done to all involved.
What an amazing effort! Well done to all involved.