Can Cruise, the one-day car and motorbike rally was run in November, after an eight-month postponement, with 220 registered participants not only from across the Mid-Western Region, but Penrith, Lithgow, and Merriwa as well.
Close to $6,500 was raised for Can Assist – Mudgee and Districts Branch.
It was a curtailed format, but the markets were in full swing when they arrived at Rylstone.
Succulents kindly nurtured along by Bindi and sold by John, Marlene’s (the Branch Secretary) husband. With $150 made in just 2 hours it was a great success and we look forward to the next one.
She is a pioneer of the Manning Valley music scene, and now Pam Archer OAM has added another accolade to her growing list.
Pam received life membership to the University of the Third Age (U3A) at a Manning Valley branch meeting on Monday, October 12.
She was recognised for her service and outstanding commitment to the members, programs and activities of the Manning Valley branch, specifically the U3A choir the Silver Tones Singers.
Pam was the founding musical director when the Silver Tones began in October 2009.
Under her guidance, singers of all abilities were welcomed and included in programs and performances.
Pam was instrumental in creating two concerts to raise funds for local charities. These are held annually at various venues in the area.
Since 2014, they have raised $18,060. Those to benefit from the concerts include Manning Base Hospital’s children’s ward, Can Assist, Push 4 Palliative, women’s refuges, Homeless Support Service and Manning Uniting Church welfare programs.
Pam retired from the choir in March 2020. The passionate music educator has contributed to many initiatives and activities in the Manning Valley.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions forcing organisers to cancel events, Lithgow Can Assist were unable to hold their annual street store which raises funds for local cancer patients. Fortunately friends Tanya Slaven, Rachel Ford and Jannine Smith were determined to help out as much as they could. The ladies took to Facebook conducting an online auction which raised $1200 for the charity.
“We were originally going to donate to the street store but we when found out they couldn’t have it due to COVID we decided we’d just do something independently and see if we could raise money,” Tanya said.
The ladies’ initial goal was to raise $500 but with a generous donation from Rick Slaven art, they surpassed that.
“It just kept climbing,” Rachel said.
Jannine said it felt rewarding to be able to help out the local community.
“It makes us feel very good because we know it’s going to local families that are in need,” she said.
Lithgow Branch held their ABM on 5th August the following members accepted their nomination:- President, Maree Statham, Secretary Lesley Townsend, Treasurer Linda Lingard, Minute Secretary Kay Adams, Liaison Officers, Marilyn Tulley and Anne Anderson, Publicity and Membership Co-ordinator Noela Williams, Fund Raising Officer, Noela Williams, Cynthia Thornton and Olive Ward. OH&S Representative Lesley Townsend.
We haven’t been able to hold fundraising events due to COVID-19 restrictions. We had a lovely surprise from 3 local ladies, who are friends of Can Assist, held an online Facebook auction raising $1200, they came to our October Meeting to present their cheque to our group. President Maree thanked the group for their donation and said the money would go towards helping the charity’s 61 active clients. This will help cancer patients in the Local Government Area with their accommodation, their chemist accounts and lots of other things. We are very excited and grateful for this.
Our group hold social afternoon teas as there is no time to socialize at our meetings, this is a way to get to know each other in an informal situation. 6 members are going to attend a Long Lunch on 31st October. We feel by being out in the public eye it is making our community more aware that assistance is available for Cancer patients in our area.
Hopefully, in November we will be able to have our annual Christmas street stall, our main raffle will be a Lawn Mower which has been donated to our branch which we are most grateful for.
It has been a big year for Lilier Lodge. Despite COVID-19 being a challenge for us all, Lilier Lodge has remained open and provided a much needed safe haven for people having to travel to Wagga Wagga for treatment.
Some amazing improvements were undertaken at Lilier Lodge this year due to grants received from Dry July and the 2019 Community Building Partnership Fund. The Lilier Lodge Communal Kitchen was transformed into a wonderfully fresh and awesome looking Kitchen, and we now have a fantastic Deck and Kitchen Garden off our Communal Dining Area.
We had four lovely children visit Lilier Lodge on Saturday 12th December. Eleanor aged 6, Ivy aged 6, Oliver aged 9, and Layla aged 11 brought in some special gifts to assist the guests at Lilier Lodge in particular plants, gardening tools, and garden ornaments for the kitchen garden. Each year rather than an Advent Calendar, these children do a Kindness Countdown instead. So it teaches them that Christmas is just as much about giving as it is about receiving. This Christmas we were privileged for them all to choose Lilier Lodge as their Act of Kindness.
As we near the end of 2020, at Lilier Lodge, our guests, volunteers and staff wish to thank each and every one of you for your support and assistance and to also wish you the very best for Christmas and the New Year.
Whatever you are doing over the Christmas period we do hope it is a special time for you and your families.
Yanco Agricultural High School year 10 student Cleo McLaughlin raised money for Can Assist in October.
Cleo’s beautiful long locks were turned into a classic Australian mullet as she raised money for the Black Dog Institute as part of its Mullets for Mental Health initiative.
Then, Cleo took another huge step shaving off all of her hair raising money for children with cancer.
So far, she has already raised almost $2000 for the Black Dog Institute and more than $1800 for children’s cancer through Can Assist.
Wendy Jackson congratulated & thanked members for their ongoing support at the Guyra Branch Christmas afternoon tea.
Gunnedah has received funding through a partnership with www.greenslips.com.au with an aim to assist those in remote NSW who regularly travel long distances to get treatment.
Can Assist Gunnedah president Kate Knight said with some clients having to travel to Sydney or Newcastle to receive the essential care, kilometers really add up.
“Radiation could require 25 trips, there and back,” she said.
“We have such long distances to travel, it’s critical to have a safe, reliable car to get to treatment.”
Can Assist Gunnedah also supports other local towns including Carroll, Mullaley, Boggabri and Curlewis, who may have to travel even further.
