The North East Lions Club not only knows how to put on a feast but it also knows how to care for its community by supporting not-for-profit organisations which provide much-needed services.
Yesterday North-East Lions Club president Craig Steel and Drew Carter presented RFDS Tasmania president Malcolm White with a cheque for $5000, raised at the recent 8th annual Farm Feast on the property of John and Jenny Creswell at Branxholm.
These regular fun events, held on the last Friday of June each year, feature locally grown meat and produce, live music and the presence of mental health care workers and provide the chance for farmers to unwind, de-stress and connect with their neighbours.
This year Dairy Tasmania injected $3000 into the event and the retired head chef at North East Soldiers Memorial Hospital, the local RSL, Greenhams and Scottsdale Pork all did their bit to make the night a huge success – 222 adults and 65 children attended.
The modest entry cost of $10 covered bus transfers, food and entertainment and along with a well patronised bar, a monster raffle of goods generously donated by local businesses, the costs were covered and money was raised for Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania (RFDS) and Rural Alive and Well (RAW).
Mr Steel said that farmers from Rushy Lagoon to Bridport and surrounding areas look forward to Farm Feast every year and that the hunt is always on for the next big shed as a venue.
“RFDS staff, like mental health care worker Julie Graham and physical health care worker Harriet Beattie, are well known and trusted in our community and we’re lucky to have the RFDS dental team here regularly,” Mr Steele said.
“I have personally relied on the RFDS rehabilitation program after having a heart attack just over a year ago and quite a few members of the North East Lions Club have also utilised this amazing service.
“The feedback I get from holding Farm Feast is that people who can be next door farming neighbours often don’t get a chance to talk to each other from one Farm Feast to the next – it really is a chance for people to catch up, vent their problems and then forget about them for a while and it’s by connecting in this way that everyone feels stronger.”
RFDS president Malcolm White said that RFDS Tasmania will use the money raised from Farm Feast to continue providing primary health care and dental services to the Dorset Municipality.
“We’re here to help lessen the need for acute care down the track and to overcome the barriers of travel to the city,” he said.
“Primary health care in particular is a big part of what we do, and in most cases our workers live in the rural areas where they work.
“We are grateful that the North East Tasmania community recognises this and shows its appreciation with fundraising support.”
