Record tumbles at foundation fundraiser

It might already be a slogan but People’s Choice Award winner Bec Hurst had a simple for message for anyone approached to be involved in Swinging with the Stars – ‘just do it’.

Bec wrote her name into the Swinging with the Stars record books by eclipsing Grant Fensom’s 2017 record.

The Port MacDonnell local’s almost $40,000 individual tally seemed a bridge too far but Robe’s Bec Hurst, who originally hails from Lucindale, smashed the previous mark with her $52,000-plus this year.

“Fundraising for such a worthy cause is just so very special,” Bec said. “It has been such a rewarding part of my year and I cherish the connections I have made through both the fundraising events I have held, plus the friendship forged hopefully forever.

“You won’t regret your time spent on something you possibly would never have thought you would be given the opportunity to be involved with.”

When you see the list of fundraising events Bec and her support crew put together, it is hard to believe she had time to attend dance rehearsals or her day job.

There was a lamb and sheep drive set up by Roly Day from SAL Livestock for each sale day in February at the Naracoorte Saleyards which was kindly supported by many farmers ranging from the Tatiara through to Furner and Penola who donated their sheep.

“The generosity of each livestock buyer must also not be forgotten,” Bec said.

Bec also partially catered for a cattle sale near Bordertown in February which involved cooking a BBQ and restacking the drinks eskies.

“Again, I was kindly assisted with this event by friends and family,” she said.

Then there was the Robe Hotel meat raffles, a fabulous night of dancing and food at Drift in Robe with music from Wade Northcott, a trivia night at Furner with both a silent auction and live auction held and an opening night of the movie The Fall Guy at the Robe Cinema.

And the fundraising didn’t stop there with a meat raffle night at Kingston’s Crown Inn Hotel and a group of Tatiara ladies held a ‘Night In’.

There was also a kind donation of the proceeds of a cow that had been sold through the local livestock market and the usual donation boxes and flyers with donation details for people to gie.

“My support came from almost all of the South East for the actual fund raising events. Tatiara through to Furner, Robe through to Lucindale, Penola and Naracoorte,” Bec said. “Even friends from overseas chipped in a donation.”

Bec was raising money for the newly established Poppy Crozier Memorial Education Scholarship and the Crozier family were front and centre of the June 22 gala event.

“On the actual night, I had family and friends attend from many areas of South Australia plus even a few from Victoria, one from Queensland and our son from New South Wales,” she said. “They all supported me on the night both financially and by cheering me on and I am so grateful to them all.

“I wasn’t surprised by the support I received because people in small country towns get behind local community events – philanthropic involvement is just so rewarding.

“To have scholarships that are run by the Limestone Coast for the Limestone Coast through Stand Like Stone provides the chance for local communities to enable many different education scholarships to be offered within our region.”

And while fundraising was a clear focus for Bec, so was having fun and developing friendships

“Saturday night was the culmination of many dance rehearsals, costume decisions, friendships made, and fundraising opportunities – what an extravaganza,” she said. “Such fun to dance in front of family and friends at The Barn and to showcase our months of driving to Mount Gambier weekly for practices at Hype Dance Studio. To dance to a live band was also such fun both for our dances, and afterwards. The cheering from the side lines was exhilarating.”