*****NEWS FLASH*****
SOME PEOPLE HAVE HEARTS OF GOLD
As most of you would be aware, Sam sent out an email on Monday afternoon seeking for your (the membership) approval to outlay SHC-SA funds to purchase much needed feed for our horse loving friends caught up in the tragedy of the Victorian bushfires. Sam received an overwhelmingly positive response to this request from our members. THANKYOU.
Contact was then made with Barry Kalleske from Kalleske Chaff at Greenock. He was asked if he could help us provide support to horse victims in Victoria by providing us with chaff at a reduced price so that we could donate the feed to those that need it. Without hesitation Barry and his wife Kristi agreed to help us. Barry and his team at Greenock spent all day Thursday 12th February cutting 20 x round bales of wheaten hay to produce 206 bags (5.6tonnes) of freshly cut, top quality wheaten chaff at a price which would no where near cover costs. His team consisting of Colin Teusner, Kym Filsell and Robert Zilm, volunteered their time to do this. This is what true Aussie spirit is all about. People banding together to help those most in need. We have been overwhelmed by their generosity and their sense of compassion. Thankyou so very much.
Once we had liaised with Barry to get the chaff, our next hurdle was how we were going to get the chaff to Victoria. After several phone conversations to many people, we began to think that we may not be able to get the feed over there without coming up with some more serious funds. We were told that to transport a semi trailer full of feed to Victoria and then back home would require close to $1000 in diesel fuel without taking into consideration peoples time and food costs etc. This was way out of our reach at this stage.
Then, after receiving an email from Deb Ferguson of the Southern Vales Dressage Club, we were put into contact with Adrian Matthews who was orgainsing a feed run of donated fodder to go to the bush fire affected zones in Victoria. Adrian arranged for the pick up of this feed by a man/lawyer known only as Jacob, who had taken time off work and borrowed a truck from City Dismantlers at Gepps Cross to take this feed over to Victoria at no cost.He not only donated his time, but also the fuel for the journey. A special mention should also go to Mark Baker for his assistance in loading the chaff and taking photos. We sincerely thankyou Adrian, Jacob and Mark.
The combined effort of the SHC-SA Membership, Barry, Kristi and Lance Kalleske, Colin Teusner, Kym Filsell, Robert Zilm, Deb Ferguson, Adrian Matthews, Mark Baker and Jacob has enabled the chaff plus much other feed to make its way to Toolern Vale, Victoria to be distributed to all the bush fire affected regions, for the many horses (and other animals) that so desperately need it.
The SHC-SA committee will endeavour to raise more much needed funds to help these people further down the track. We realise that the rebuilding of lives and the need for fodder will be needed for many, many more months to come and we will strive to help when and where we can.
So to all our members, please feel proud that you have helped contribute to such a desperate and needy cause. To all the Victorians and their families who are caught up in this nightmare, we are thinking of you.
One last thing, to the members who cannot attend the Rising Star show on the new date and who have donated their entry fees to this cause, thankyou very, very much. You know who you are!
