Thorburns thanked for services to campdrafting

• At the presentation of the certificate of appreciation for the Thorburns at Bromley’s Café in Foster last Friday are (L to R): Yanakie Campdraft members Lachie Bowman, Kane Sparkes (president), Kevin Thorburn, Sue Thorburn, Chloe Mackay (treasurer) and (front) Stella Bowman.

KEVIN and Sue Thorburn responded to an invitation to morning tea at Bromley’s Café on Main last Friday thinking it was an opportunity to catch up with a few members of the campdrafting fraternity.

Much to their surprise the morning tea was an ambush! Yanakie Campdraft members Kane Sparkes (president), Chloe Mackay (treasurer), and Lachie and Stella Bowman, thanked the Thorburns for their many years of service to Yanakie Campdraft and presented them with a certificate of appreciation. Yanakie Campdraft secretary Bec Vuillermin was unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony.

The Thorburns were founding members of the Yanakie Campdraft more than 20 years ago and have contributed to its success ever since, even after their own drafting days were over. They have helped run each campdraft and have been crucial to the behind-the-scenes organisation which goes on for much of the year.

“We couldn’t have done it without them!” exclaimed Stella Bowman.

Kevin Thorburn held the position of Yanakie Campdraft treasurer from the start until very recently, when Chloe Mackay took over. The handover to a new generation has also seen Kane Sparkes take over as president from long-time president Lachie Bowman.

The first few Yanakie campdrafts were held at Bill Davies’ property, with the first one in 1995 memorable for how dusty it was. This was in stark contrast to the next year, when the campdraft was washed out! A few years later, in 2001 or 2002, the opportunity arose to hold the campdrafts at the Yanakie Recreation Reserve and that has been the venue ever since.

The 2016 Yanakie Campdraft is on this weekend, February 20-21, and like all others before it will be very much a community event.

The Yanakie Campdraft committee is made up of only half a dozen people, but other members of the community pitch in to help, including farmers who generously lend their cattle and local organisations who cater for the hundreds of people who attend to watch or participate in the drafting. Local businesses are generous with their sponsorship, knowing that the Yanakie Campdraft is a non-profit group and all money made is ploughed back into the community. Just last week (see Mirror 10/2/16) the Yanakie Campdraft committee handed over a total of $6,500, money raised at last year’s campdraft, to several very appreciative community organisations.

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