Sunshine Bendigo strikes gold

A PARTICULARLY lucky series of events has led to fuller pockets at Sunshine Bendigo after last week’s Melbourne Cup.

The organisation drew race winning horse, Verry Elleegant, in the $50,000 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep after being nominated as one of the charities to take part by Kirkland Lake Gold, suppliers of the gold in this year’s trophy.

“We were pretty honoured to be selected as their charity,” founder and director of Sunshine Bendigo, Glenda Serpell, said. “That was pretty exciting”

“They allocated us a horse with the hope that it would win the race.

“It was just a luck of the draw for us that they drew our horse and it won. It was pretty amazing.

“Some of our volunteers were here on site. We had the television on and it was quite festive. A glass of champagne was had.”

Kirkland Lake Gold’s general manager of Fosterville Gold Mine, Lance Faulkner, said it was a rush to watch the race.

“It was an amazing feeling when Verry Elleegant crossed the line first and we realised we had won. Everyone in the community is just so thrilled and we felt very lucky to host the cup on tour when it visited in September,” he said.

Ms Serpell said her organisation would make the money “go a long way” after another challenging year for them and the local families they support.

“This money and any money that we are donated is essential so we can continue to provide the service we do to the community,” she said.

“It means that we can purchase items such as safe car seats, cots and prams, essentials such as nappies, clean linen and clothing.

“But it also enables us to pay the overheads and running costs that we’ve really struggled to acquire in the past year.”

With Christmas some six weeks away, Ms Serpell said there could be more need in the community and Sunshine Bendigo was preparing to respond.

“We make sure that all the caseworkers we liaise with are aware of what we can offer them as far as gifts for children, summer clothing or your essentials that people might be stretched for at that time of the year,” she said.