A star-studded line up of Australian sportsmen will head to Camperdown this week to give fire affected families and volunteers a much-needed night out.
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Australian tennis champion John Fitzgerald and former AFL footballers Paul Roos, Danny Frawley, Michael Gale, Brett Stephens, Jimmy Wynd, Paul Broderick and Anthony Stevens have donated their time to speak at the event on Wednesday night.
One of the organisers Peter Conheady said the event at the Leura Oval would give families affected by the fires and volunteers a social outlet after a big couple of weeks.
“It’s going to be a ripper,” Mr Conheady said. “The fires were an absolute tragedy but the one thing it does do is bring out the goodness in people and there are a lot of good people doing lots of really good things.
“This is not a fund-raising event. This is an event that is being put on for the people in the community who have been affected by the tragic fires.
“There’s a whole gamut of people who have been involved so we wanted to put a night on to try and get them away from that for a couple of hours, to give them a decent feed and a few drinks and a night out and for it to not cost them a cent.”
He said anyone who had helped with the emergency response or the relief efforts in the days after the St Patrick’s Day fires at Gazette, Terang, Garvoc and Camperdown were invited.
“It’s all come together really quick and while we don’t have a direct connection to those affected by the Gazette blaze, they’re more than welcome too.
“It’s not just the Corangamite (Shire) affected residents. It’s for anyone in the great south-west who have been impacted by the fires.”
The kids will also be entertained from 6.30pm with elite netballer and former Camperdown resident Sarah Wall hosting Net Fit netball session and the visiting former footballers will hosting clinics for older children alongside Camperdown Auskick members.
He said Macca’s Amusements had donated a jumping castle and giant slide and there would be face painting too.
He said a number of corporations had donated, including major sponsor Powercor who “contributed a substantial amount of money” and others including Midfield Meats, Anglicare, Coca Cola, Wannon Water, NAB Agribusiness, The Victorian Farmers Federation, United Dairyfarmers Victoria, Fonterra and the Camperdown Football Netball Club.
“The businesses in Terang, Cobden and Camperdown rely so much on the farming community and now the farmers have been hit by the fires the small businesses are going to find it pretty tough so we went to that next level and sought some corporate sponsorship.
“There are so many people who feel for those who have been affected by the fires who just want to do something to contribute. It’s been terrific to have so many put their hand up to do their bit."
