The 10th annual Maddie’s Beyond Blue Bash was held last Saturday at Gunnedah Woolworths’ car park, with the community showing up with giving hands again.
Local businesses and community members offered raffle prizes without being asked while others helped by baking up a storm to sell sweet treats.
Volunteers were hard at work on the barbecue, selling ‘100 clubs’ and warming up patrons with coffee for the cold winter morning.
Money was raised for Beyond Blue, a charity that provides mental health information and support.
The fundraiser was in honour of Gunnedah’s Maddie Smith, who died by suicide at the age of 21.
On July 19 each year, people fundraise in Gunnedah Woolworths’ car park to raise money for the charity in honour of her birthday.
Her memory continues to live on with thousands of dollars donated by the community in her name.
Saturday alone brought in $3456, with tins at Woolworths and Club Gunnedah still to be totalled at the end of the month.
Maddie’s family and kindhearted volunteers have put in the hours to see the fundraiser go ahead each year.
A quiet force behind the work was Maddie’s sister Gabby, who mother Vicki said was her right hand in helping
“I couldn’t do it without her,” she said.
“She was sick last week and couldn’t make it on Saturday but she worked quietly behind the scenes.”
Cherie Gaites and Patrina Marshall were thanked for donating the barbecue supplies. Also thanked was Max Lee, who donated two original artworks that were auctioned off at Club Gunnedah on Saturday night. The auction’s total will be added to the final funds, calculated at a later date.
Heather Franke purchasing coffee from Di and Alecia Coker.
