Campdrafters generosity continues

SINCE their commencement in 1995, the annual Yanakie campdrafts have raised enough profits to allow Yanakie Campdraft Association to donate a total of $30,000 back to the local community, with the majority of these funds going to the Prom Country Aged Care facilities of Banksia Lodge and Prom View Lodge.

This year is no exception, and in the lead up to the 2011 Yanakie Campdraft at Yanakie Recreation Reserve over this coming weekend of February 19 and 20, Committee President Lachie Bowman and Treasurer Kevin Thorburn were pleased to hand out a total of $2,000 to be shared between Prom Country Aged Care ($1,000), Corner Inlet Children’s Hub – via managers Gippsland Uniting Care – ($500) and Foster Primary School’s Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Project ($500).

Speaking on behalf of Gippsland Uniting Care, Tracey Gibson said the money would be used to purchase toys for the childcare areas of the Hub as funding had not provided for either toys or furniture for these areas.

[In contrast, Foster kindergarten will be bringing its existing equipment, furniture and toys to its new premises in the Hub].

Ms Gibson was especially excited because this was the first community donation received by the Hub.

Foster Primary School Principal Fiona Bull and PCAC Chief Executive Officer Claire Schmierer advised that they would be consulting with others about the priorities for spending the donations but would let the Association know in due course.

Mr. Thorburn noted that cumulatively, the nine Gippsland campdraft committees (including Yanakie) had also recently donated an impressive $13,000 to the ‘Movember’ men’s health and ‘Beyond Blue’ causes through a combination of individual sponsorships and campdraft donations.

COMPETITIVE SPECTACLE

Next weekend’s campdraft will provide a good spectacle from 7.00am through until about 6.00pm on both days as almost $9,000 in prize money plus trophies are on offer for competitors across categories including juvenile, junior, maiden, novice, ladies and open competitions.

“The Novice competition will be excellent this year because we are making a feature of two Novice rounds plus a Novice final on the Sunday afternoon with a prize pool of $6,000 plus a quality bridle, stock whip and breastplate for the winner,” Mr. Bowman said.

Altogether Yanakie Campdraft 2011 has some 720 entries including top riders and interstate entrants plus many up and coming young riders, which incidentally includes Mr. Bowman’s son Darren who won his second Novice event at the Powlett River campdraft just two weekends ago.

Refreshments will be available throughout the campdraft at the Settlers Hut, and a sit-down meal will be catered at Yanakie Hall on the Saturday night.

To book your place at the $15, two-course dinner at the hall, call Len Fleming on 5687 1232.

A bar will also be operating.

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