February 11, 2022
A pub crawl with a difference last weekend ended up raising about $15,500 for flood-hit community groups in Tansey.
Brisbane resident David Rakowski organised the “Country Support Tour” and an associated GoFundMe page, “Buy A Bushie A Beer”.
The busload of joyriders pulled out of Brisbane on Saturday morning, stopping for drinks along the way at the D’Ag Pub (D’Aguilar), the Exchange (Kilcoy), Hotel Radnor (Blackbutt), The Palace (Nanango), Grand Hotel (Wooroolin) and Clovely Estate cellardoor before rounding off the trip with a big night at Joe’s Grand Hotel in Goomeri.
The idea was to push some dollars through local businesses but also to raise funds for the community groups in Tansey – including the bowls, tennis and polocrosse clubs and the show and campdraft society – which were slammed by the January flood.
For Sunday morning’s recovery, the group organised a community fun day at the Tansey Bowls Club, complete with jumping castle, face-painting and a free brekkie for local residents.
There were also raffles and an auction.
The total was bolstered by donations from the Goomeri, Gympie and Nanango Lions Clubs, who together donated about $11,000.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, who greeted the visitors on Sunday morning, said it was wonderful to see the large crowd gather to raise the spirits of local families affected from the recent flooding.
“After a very rough start to 2022 it was wonderful to see so many smiles on faces,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I wanted to personally thank organiser David Rakowski and supporters for spending time with the Booubyjan, Tansey and Goomeri communities and raising upwards of $15,000 for the local community groups to help their recovery.
“In regional areas the local community and sporting clubs play a vital role in connecting people and the money raised from Sunday’s fundraiser will ensure they are back up and running.
“It was wonderful to see Emergency Service personal in attendance and show them our appreciation for the work they do to keep our communities safe.
“The region has a long way to go in their recovery, but events like this are crucial to remind them that their community is right behind them.”
This was the 12th “Country Support Tour” organised by David, taking Brisbane residents to country towns.
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Sunday’s fundraiser was on top of a generous donation of $30,000 from the Murgon Services Club to the Tansey Bowls Club earlier this month.
Services Club secretary Cynthia Hatchett told southburnett.com.au the Tansey Bowls Club had always given their support to the Murgon Services Club, and the Murgon club had sponsored some of the bowls club’s events.
She said the damage at the Tansey club had been horrific with water and mud going right through the building, higher than the cupboards.
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Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young PSM and her husband, Prof Graeme Nimmo RFD, will also be dropping into Goomeri next week, but we doubt they’ll be doing a pub crawl along the way.
The pair will be visiting Goomeri on Tuesday (February 15) to meet and hear the stories of flood-affected residents.
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