Some heroes wear capes: Run for Rochy co-ordinator Sarah Mangan brought together a range of community groups to stage the flood-relief fundraising event at the Kyabram P-12 College.
Kyabram’s close connection to the Rochester community — through sport, business, education, family and industry — was the catalyst of what is expected to be a $20,000 windfall for the Rochester Flood Recovery fund.
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Late last week more than $13,000 had been raised from the Run for Rochy event and associated raffle, with tickets still to be sold for the Monday, December 19, draw of the raffle.
“If we can sell all the raffle tickets we will raise $20,000,” organiser Sarah Mangan said.
“It is just a wonderful community effort. In the lead up I had businesses contacting me to see if they could be involved, it was amazing the support we received.”
Run for Rochy was staged on a Monday afternoon a week ago, attracting hundreds of participants and just as many onlookers who were involved in a variety of fundraising activities to support the Rochester Secondary College and Rochester Primary School.
Mrs Mangan is the wife of Nanneella Estate Primary School principal, Tom, and a close friend of the Rochester schools.
She said the Run for Rochy event, which was hosted by the Kyabram P-12 College (of which Rochester resident Todd Woodfine is principal), was a community event — not just a school event.
“It was much more than a school event, although they did host it,” she said.
“Staff and students from VCAL and Tech staff and students created the obstacle course.
“But it was a community effort. We had 560 participate in the Splash and Dash part of the evening and more than 1000 people attend the night with spectators and community groups running stalls.”
Kyabram resident, football/netball club treasurer, and principal of the Rochester Primary School, Kate Whitford, echoed the connection of the two towns.
She is a former Kyabram P-12 College principal.
Businesses came on board to support the Run for Rochy event and the end result, if all raffle tickets can be sold before the Monday, December 19, draw, a total of $20,000 is expected to be handed over for work and equipment at Rochester Secondary College and Rochester Primary School.
There are more than 20 prizes in the raffle, the major prize a 75-inch Smart TV donated by Primal Health Club and Kyabram Betta Home Living, along with a variety of other prizes. Second prize is a $200 family mini session with Claudia Moore Photography.
Tickets remain available at Kyabram P-12 College Office, Open House, Hurleys Hotel, Betta Home Living, Terry White Chemmart, McConnells Real Estate, Intersports Bennetts, Primal Health Club and Kyabram Newsagents.
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
ACM, Aussie Kindies Kyabram, Bakers’ Delight Kyabram, Betta Electrical, Cadells, Campaspe Shire, Cantech, Claudia Moore Photography, Darin and Matt Ohlsen Digger Hire, Dawes & Vary, Edge Print Mooroopna, Empire Signs, Fire Brigade CC, Fischer Family, Geelong FC, Gone Rogue, Greely Family, H&G Real Estate, Hurley’s Hotel, Intersport Bennetts, JR Coffee Please, Julie Day Lorraine Lea, Kebab Mates, Ky Cricket Club, Ky Hire, Kyabram Blue Light, Kyabram Bombers Junior Football Club, Kyabram CFA, Kyabram Club, Kyabram Football Netball Club, Kyabram Lions Club, Kyabram Netball Association, Kyabrm P-12 College VCAL Program, Kyabram P-12 Parents Club, Kyabram Plaza Theatre, Kyabram Valley Dairy Group, Kyabram VET, Lancaster Primary School, Lancaster Football Club, McColls Transport, Newspower Kyabram, Open House, OSHC Kyabram P-12, Papercake, Peats Office Supplies, Rochester Primary School, Secretly Scrumptious, Shepparton It’s Party Time, SPC, St Patrick’s Tongala, Tongala Development Group, The Loop Kyabram, Walkers Real Estate.
Taking aim: Mary Hipwell and Karen Newlan take pleasure in fulfilling their “squirt station’’ role on the Run for Rochy obstacle course, which stretched from Haslem St to the Breen Ave boundary of the college.
Purple and puffed: Flynn Burrows takes a rest from his third lap of the Run for Rochy course, which attracted hundreds of students and community members to the college grounds.
Crawling for cash: An obstacle course created by staff and students from the P-12 College VCAL and Tech programs offered plenty of challenges for Run for Rochy participants.
Best seat in the house: Tully Busch sits on mother Hayley’s shoulders as they began their walk around the colour run course in aide of Rochester flood relief.
Pump action: Karen McCulloch has a colour run victim in her sights at one of the many obstacles that participants needed to negotiate on their way around the course.
Doing laps: This pair were among almost 600 that spent half an hour doing laps of the Kyabram P-12 College course that stretched across the school ovals and wound its way alongside the school buildings.
Hands in: In typical community fashion this group of girls completed the Run for Rochy course in unison, helping to create what is expected to be a $20,000 windfall for the Rochester secondary and primary schools.
Fluffy fun: Daniel Te and Jackson Collins in their unblemished white t-shirts prior to tackling the course. There were several other entertainment options for participants in the Run for Rochy fundraiser, including fairy floss.
Bombs away: Kyabram P-12 College primary principal Billy Barnes attempts (unsuccessfully) to avoid a soaking as he leads the student body on the opening lap of the Run for Rochy colour run.
Sue’s salute: Music teacher Sue Meeking commentated the event from “high ground’’ to avoid the water and colourful powder that played such a major role in challenging the Run for Rochy entrants.
Ready to run: Twins Jack and Oscar Salter, with elder brother Angus, before starting their afternoon run around the obstacle course at Kyabram P-12 College.
