Community

Wanalta crew raises money for charity

By Kyabram Free Press

Aug 1, 2025

Shearers, rouseabouts and volunteers from the Wanalta shearing day, which raised money to help children with cancer. Pictures by Sharon Perry. Photo by Sharon Perry

The Wanalta shearers have done it again, with a major contribution to support children with cancer.

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For 11 years, the people of the Rushworth, Wanalta and Colbinabbin communities have banded together for an annual fundraising event in the shearing shed of Wanalta farmer Bill Barlow.

Shearers donate their time to shear the Barlow flock, while the locals gathered for a fun day outside on Friday, July 25.

Event co-ordinator Katrina Ogden announced the day had raised $84,377. The funds will be directed to the My Room cancer charity, which channels the money into research and support for families.

While down slightly on last year’s total, Katrina said it had been a tough year for farming, and recent weather conditions limited the scope of shearing on the day.

Due to rainfall, the sheep had to be shedded in advance and then given shelter after the shearing, thus limiting the numbers to about 300.

However, she said she was happy with the day and praised the volunteers and supporters for their contributions.

Rain on the day held off until after the charity auction, run by Elders agent Nigel Starick, had been completed.

This was the 11th year for the charity event, which started on a more modest scale when three-year-old Lori Perry was diagnosed with cancer and the community decided to pitch in to help her and her family with the treatment in Melbourne.

Since then, it has grown into a major event, and the money raised has been directed through the registered charity My Room.

My Room supports children undergoing cancer treatment and their families, largely through the Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash hospitals in Melbourne. Money has been used to enhance the treatment wards at the Royal Children’s and to support families who want to stay in Melbourne to support their child.

Lori is now 13, and she attended the shearing day to thank the supporters and to engage in some of the fun activities. She is still undergoing treatment.

My Room chief executive Margaret Zita also attended the day.

All the auction items, including a big range of farm supplies, and collectors’ items such as signed jumpers by former Geelong AFL star Tom Hawkins and Eagles player Harley Reid, were sold on the day.