Rebel Donuts has baked a special thankyou to Mornington veterans for their service and sacrifice
A Mornington bakery is distributing free Anzac-themed doughnuts to veterans. And they’ve also created a fun way locked-down littlies can get involved in our national day of commemoration.
South East
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A Mornington business is delivering free doughnuts to veterans in a bid to honour the Anzacs during the coronavirus crisis.
Rebel Donuts came up with the initiative to replace its annual doughnut drop to Mornington RSL on April 25.
“The RSL gave us a list of 40 veterans on their books and we’re dropping off doughnuts to their homes,” Rebel co-founder Ben Swan said.
One of the first to receive doughnuts was Alan McDonald.
The Mornington man was “chuffed” with his baked treats, especially one iced to look like a poppy.
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Mr McDonald, 89, followed his three brothers into the armed services in 1948.
His long stint included serving as a platoon commander during the Korean War and later running the Army apprenticeship school at Balcombe, Mt Martha, rising to the rank of Colonel.
He retired in 1985 and not long after became the Appeals Officer for Mornington RSL.
“I’ve just had to pack up and send back all our boxes of badges – unopened” he said.
“Normally I’d be organising volunteers to sell the badges at 10 different locations across Mt Martha, Mornington and Mt Eliza.”
Mr McDonald said the Anzac Day Appeal usually raised about $70,000 of which $35,000 was used to support Mornington veterans and their families.
“We’ll really miss that money. I just hope things are back to normal by Remembrance Day,” he said.
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Mr Swan said it was an honour to “deliver some happiness’ to Mr McDonald and other veterans.
Rebel is also selling Anzac-themed DIY doughnut decorating kits to help educate and entertain children.
The packs include doughnuts and decorating materials and the first hundred orders of the Anzac-themed kits will also include a Little Diggers activity pack from the RSL.
“The DIY kits are an extension of our school holiday program,” Mr Swan said.
“We put together a range of kits that we can deliver to people to replace our instore decorating classes.
“In the lead up to Easter we were selling a hundred every day.”
He said the business had to employ six drivers to keep up with the delivery of kits and regular doughnut orders.
“We expanded our delivery area and we now cover all the way down the peninsula to Rye, as far north as Moorabbin and out to Cranbourne and Clyde,” he said.
The DIY doughnut kits are $14.90 each and can be ordered at rebeldonuts.com.au