By Danielle Kutchel
“We don’t want to lose anymore of our loved ones.”
That’s the sentiment behind the Balla Balla Community Centre’s Biggest Morning Tea, according to the centre’s manager, Maree Cullinan.
“What I was seeing was so many people touched by cancer, including myself. And there was so many opportunities for cancer research but it’s all funding driven, so it was about how can we make this happen, we want it to happen sooner rather than later,” she explained.
More than 110 people packed Balla Balla Community Centre to enjoy a cuppa and morning tea in support of the cause on Thursday 23 May.This was the seventh incarnation of the event, with about $12,000 raised over the past seven years.
Ms Cullinan said the event had “grown legs” since its first smaller versions.
The day was in memorial of a volunteer, Kay, who passed away from cancer late last year and was described by Ms Cullinan as “a life force of the centre.”
Hallam Community Learning Centre, Outlook, Blue Hills Rise and Blue Hills, Inspiring Women and the Knitters and Natters were among the groups that attended the event, which was kicked off with an enthusiastic line dancing demonstration put together with volunteers from the centre that had the whole room clapping along.
City of Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon attended as the guest speaker, and spoke about resilience in life and the community.
A raffle also helped to get the crowd revved up – despite some good-humoured debate over the colour of the tickets.
A grand total of $2314.50 was raised to support the Cancer Council’s work with much of this raised during a competitive auction which saw bids fly across the room, especially when a Tupperware pack was on offer.
Ladies’ community group Inspiring Women booked a full table at the front of the room, and member Gay Haysom said they were pleased to continue to support their event with their presence.
Ms Haysom said it was a bit of a tradition to come now, with around half their members attending this year’s event.
Ms Cullinan described it as a day of “lots of fun and laughter” and thanked sponsors, those who donated and the volunteers who supported the event.
