‘It gives us our purpose’: Inside Victoria Hill Lamb’s Australia Day fundraiser to save local hall

A Southern Downs family business has announced it will step up to the plate and fundraise to support a community hub in need.

The family behind an iconic Southern Downs farm have rolled up its sleeve in order to fundraise for a local landmark in need.

Victoria Hill Lamb has announced its plan to fundraise for the local hall at Victoria Hill by throwing an Australia Day bash featuring holiday staples like cricket, drinks and high-quality local meats barbecued to perfection.

The Schmidt family and team has been passionate about the local community since moving to the area over three years ago, with family matriarch Dr Claire Schmidt recently taking up the mantle to operate the Allora Medical Centre and save it from closure.

The Schmidt family of Victoria Hill Lamb hopes they can make a difference in the community, accompanied by their legendary lamb (Photo: Victoria Hill Lamb)

The business is keen to give back to the community and make a positive difference, and hopes the Australia Day Cricket Bash will provide grassroots funding to help the small communities iconic hall.

The move comes as the local business gears up for a busy period at the tailend of summer and prepares its much-loved Australia Day lamb packs.

Victoria Hill Lamb owner and founded Stephen Schmidt said it was extremely important for them to give back to the community and have a day to share food and drinks with their community.

“The cricket bash was our idea to help out the community, give the town a celebration for the whole family and raise some money, dreamt up over a few Christmas beers,” Mr Schmidt said.

Profits from the event will go to ensuring the Victoria Hill Hall can become a hub for local kids to have fun and for the community to have a space to mingle.

Mr Schmidt said the goal of the bash was to raise money towards fencing for the hall, exterior lights and a defibrillator on site, which will make the space safe for the community to socialise.

Claire and Stephen Schmidt (shown with their children) from Victoria Hill Lamb are keen to dedicate themselves to giving back to their community. (Photo: Victoria Hill Lamb)

“We want to keep the community engaged and give a reason for everyone to mingle with their neighbours- we work in the community but we also live in it- being able to give something back gives us our purpose.

“We work all year round in Victoria Hill, so we don’t always get a chance to stop and say g’day or thank a neighbour, so it’s very important to us to be engaged with the community.”

Victoria Hill Lamb proclaim in a poem released to advertise their products ‘There's other days for beef and pork so hear me loud and clear, Australia Day is a day for lamb so make it VHL this year.’

For all the details see below:

When: 26th January, 2023

Where: Victoria Hill Hall

Time: 9:00am- late

All proceeds will go to the Victoria Hill Hall, Australia Day lamb delivery orders close on January 15.

You can visit them here.