DATELINE: Bellingen Butchers, Hyde Street, Sat, June 15 - The timing was auspicious, Crazy Day, the tension was palpable; the publicity relentless, a raffle in which four winners would each walk away with more than 40 kilograms of freshly butchered meat, not just any sort of meat but prime yearling Angus heifer, a corker of a prize donated by local farming legend, Maida Bugg.
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But this was no ordinary raffle. It was run by the formidable women behind the Bellingen Hospital Action Group and had raised a total of $4480, proceeds designed to encourage the state government to flush the moths out of their wallet and put words into action and re-roof the Bellingen hospital.
So important was this outcome, it required no less a person to officiate than Mayor Mark Troy temporarily putting aside secessionist threats by sewer-crazed Newry Islanders.
Crazy Day pedestrians watched in awe, a 2BBB roving reporter waited in anticipation of a world-beating exclusive to announce the outcome as BHAG convenor Barbara Moore (seen below drawing the winning raffle ticket) churned the white plastic tub’s mass of tickets and announced the winners - Nigel McKenzie of Bellingen, Hugo Oppeld of Hydes Creek, John and Valerie Rose and local builder Greg Murphy.
Congratulations in order for other members of the BHAG team, Shirl “the Pearl” Dunn, and fund raiser-in-chief Pauline Murphy.
Organisers would also like to extend a big thanks to Bellingen newsagency and Paradise Silks.
Meanwhile the hospital fight continues anew.
