Community rallies for bushfire-impacted family

BALLARAT residents have shown the spirit of community, donating to a trivia night and silent auction for a family who was affected by Victoria’s January bushfires.

Vouchers from local businesses, equestrian equipment and other quality goods have been offered up for the Friday 30 January event from 7.30pm at Sebastopol Bowling Club.

The trivia night and silent auction will provide support to the Hallam family, who lost their Quantong house during the fires.

Event organiser Abbey Willis said the family has strong connections to the greater Ballarat area.

Mrs Willis, who runs Ajay Equestrian Riding School, said the Hallams have provided residents with a number of livestock and other animals throughout the years.

“They lease a horse to us to use at our riding school and we’ve also purchased horses off them in the past as well,” she said.

“Even after starting this trivia night a lot of people who piped up went, ‘They work for us, they sold us our dogs, they sold us our horse’. So, you know, they’re quite well-known people.”

Despite the damage, Mrs Willis said the family was safe and that no animals had been lost. She said the family’s mother Sarah was doing her best to manage.

“She just said it’s just tiring trying to organise everything and sort through things,” she said.

“You know one of the things she said to me was realising things that you don’t have anymore when you need to use them is the biggest kick in the guts.”

Mrs Willis said she was heartened by the donations that had already been made to the event.

“We’ve had lots of donations of items for the auction from local businesses and just local people, which has been great,” she said.

“We just wanted people to come support it, and if they are interested in any of the auction items I’m going to try to do it live on Facebook as well, so even if they’re not there and if they want to bid on auction items while we are there they can do that too.”

One of the items is a firepit donated by Hewitt and Whitty Ballarat.

Mrs Willis said any businesses wishing to donate shipping containers would also be appreciated, as money from the event will go to this need.

To purchase tickets, visit facebook.com/events/1395292765580725.

For more information, phone Mrs Willis on 0413 168 655.