By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
The Lions Club of Pakenham and wider Lions community held two bushfire benefits over the Easter weekend on Saturday 30 March and Sunday 31 March.
Despite the bothersome rain – which has cursed all Need for Feed benefits over the last eight years – many people turned out and Graham Cockerell, membership chairman of the Lions Club of Pakenham was able to make light of the weather.
“(It was) wet again!” he said.
“People reckon we should hire ourselves out as rainmakers.”
Graham estimated that close to 1000 people braved the conditions over the weekend and volunteered their time for the Need for Feed cause.
Need for Feed volunteers are in the process of organising fodder to be delivered to recent bushfire-affected areas such as Heyfield, Glenmaggie and Licola. Properties in the direct path of these fires earlier in the year sustained substantial losses of pasture and hay sheds, and large numbers of cattle need to be cared for until their pastures and fences can be re-established.
50 volunteers helped out with the benefits over the weekend, assisting with a range of activities including barrel racing, dirt drags, bikes on show and market stalls.
There was also an array of musicians performing at both benefits, including award-winning artist Jayne Denham. Graham said the musical performances were a particular highlight.
“They (the musical performances) went really great,” he said.
“We had Jayne Denham on Saturday night, she was top billing.”
Graham went on to thank all the volunteers and sponsors of both benefits and said without them the events wouldn’t have happened.
Next on the horizon for the Lions community is another Need for Feed convoy to be dispatched to Heyfield in early May – the third this year and an example of the continual need for fodder as a means of bushfire relief.
“We’re connecting donations already (for the next convoy),” Graham said.
“There are a few farms down there (Heyfield) that are running out.”
Anyone interested in volunteering for Need for Feed can contact Graham on 5944 4111
