Bring a plate, raise money for cancer

THE team at the Norlane Community Centre will next week host a community gathering as part of the Cancer Council’s annual Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser.

The Centre joins almost 25,000 other individuals, community groups and organisations across the country hosting similar fundraising events through May and June in support of people affected by cancer.

All funds raised from the community fundraiser are put towards cancer research, prevention programs and support services for the estimated 150,000 Australians who are diagnosed with cancer each year.

Norlane Community Centre’s morning tea event will take place on Tuesday, May 28 from 12pm and will feature a raffle with prizes donated by members of the community and a game of trivia.

Driven by a desire to bring the local community together and at the request of the ladies who participate in the Centre’s craft group, this will be Norlane Community Centre’s second consecutive morning tea event.

“Last year we were looking at ways to get community involvement happening here,” office manager Bec Medley said.

“We’ve also had a lot of volunteers that have been touched by cancer too.”

Norlane Community Centre coordinator Esther Konings-Oakes said that like all of the programs, activities and services offered by the Centre, if something is requested by members of the community, the team try to make it happen.

“My philosophy here is if people from the community want something it behoves us to…put the supports around them to be able to achieve it themselves.”

Morning tea attendees are encouraged to bring along a plate of food to be shared at the event, along with a list of ingredients included in the dish.

Ms Konings-Oakes said the intended potluck-style of the gathering allowed the whole community to buy into the event in a meaningful way and helped to foster a momentum within the Centre’s visitor-base to keep the fundraiser going each year.

This year, the Centre has set a fundraising goal of $500.

To donate to the Norlane Community Centre’s fundraiser, head to biggestmorningtea.com.au/fundraisers/NorlaneCC or for more information about how to get involved in the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea, visit biggestmorningtea.com.au