In the three months since December 2023, Trevor Officer has been running meat raffles and members’ badge draws at the Tea Gardens Hotel, raising an impressive $6000.

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“We are amazed that we raised that much in such a short time, which comes initially from the sales of $15 members’ badges, and when people in the pub learn that the money goes to a local charity, they put away the tenner and pull out a $20 note,” Trevor told NOTA.

“Our local butcher, Myall Lakes Butchery, gives us a big discount on the meat raffles, too, which increases the donations we can make back into the community.”

Last week’s donations were the first round formally made from the Wednesday raffles, featuring giant novelty cheques for the beneficiaries’ representatives to mark the occasion.

The local beneficiaries were the Free Clinic Bus, which takes those less mobile to important medical appointments; the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Boxing Club, which gives youth a place to get fit and stay out of trouble; and Can Assist, a cancer assistance organisation that helps local individuals whose lives have been impacted by cancer diagnoses.

“The Free Clinic Bus was established in 1986, after a 1985 Government deeming that ambulances could only be used for emergencies.

“We now run days per week and moved 441 clients in 2023 alone,” said the Free Clinic Bus’ Jan Peeters upon acceptance of the donation.

Former local policeman Roby Wiley helped establish the gym eight years ago with other highly dedicated volunteers, and saw a record 24 boxers in the gym last week.

“Boxing is one of the best things you can do for mental health, we are looking into doing some more in the youth mental health space, the boxing gym is a great place to get to know yourself,” Roby said.

Emma Phillips from Can Assist came up from Sydney for this presentation, saying, “We believe in raised local, stays local, and will use these funds to help people whom we know in the area with equitable access to cancer treatments, as we do for all our non-metro patients.”

Tea Gardens Hotel owner Ben Hanson added, “This is all about locals, with a focus on our youth and mental health in our town.

“Money raised here goes back into the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest community, and every three months we will give to another charity.”

By Thomas O’KEEFE