Wanalta shearers break record, surpass $100,000 for charity

The Wanalta community have far surpassed their fundraising record, raising more than $100,000 for children and families affected by cancer.

Wanalta shearers, volunteers and its community have helped raise more than $100,000 for children with cancer and their families.

Shearing for Kids with Cancer co-organiser Katrina Ogden confirmed today the fundraising efforts had far surpassed their $66,000 record, after tallying $101,898.69 for MyRoom.

“It was unreal, it blew us out of the water,” she said.

“I’m overwhelmed, to be honest, it’s taken us a lot of hard work to get there.”

It brings the group’s tally to nearly half a million dollars, after 10 years raising money for the cause.

“All the people that worked on the day, all the donations from the businesses, all of the volunteers who helped with the jumping castle or face painting, it was a real team effort,” she said.

EARLIER

Two men and 600 sheep will go under the clippers this week in an effort to raise money for children affected by cancer.

Shearing for Kids with Cancer, a fundraiser now in its tenth year, will kick off at Wanalta on Friday with hosts Bill and Val Barlow hoping to raise more than $66,000.

The couple, along with about 60 volunteers, will co-ordinate a jumping castle, face painting, raffle and auction while 15 shearers will operate across nine stands to shear 600 sheep.

Shearing for Kids with Cancer co-organiser Katrina Ogden said two local men will also shave their locks.

Katrina Ogden and Bill Barlow in the shearing shed where the fundraiser will take place. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“It’s to help the little kid who can’t necessarily help themselves,” Ms Ogden said.

“We try every year to make it bigger and better so we can put some money back into the hospital that saved our child.”

Ms Ogden’s son Heath needed surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital when he was 15 months old, and during this time her family were able to stay nearby in Melbourne.

She said the money raised would go to the children’s cancer charity, My Room, which focuses on finding a cure for cancer and helping accommodate families with children being treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Shearing for Kids with Cancer initially started when local Lori Perry, 13, faced a cancer diagnosis at three-years-old.

“She had a tumour on her liver, and her aunty decided to do a goods and services auction and one of the items was a shearing service, which my husband provided,” Ms Ogden said.

“In her 13 years of age she’s been diagnosed with the same tumour three times.

“The last time the Perry family faced Lori’s diagnosis, they had accommodation to stay in Melbourne so they could stay together as a family.”

Katrina Ogden with a merino ewe. Picture: Zoe Phillips

The raffle’s big-ticket items included 30 tonnes of lime and gypsum, 30 tonnes of crushed rock, two nights’ accommodation at Rich River Moama with two days’ golf, a children’s ride-on tractor, and about 90 vouchers.