Comp a chance to support Red Cross

SCORES of prospectors are readying their pans for when the annual Australian Gold Panning Championships returns to Blackwood Recreation Reserve on the first Saturday of March.

While competitors will take part in the Gold Rush-era pastime across nearly 10 categories, the event will also provide the opportunity for many to support one of the region’s longest-serving groups.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to Ballan Red Cross, and members will be on-site on the day selling jams, chutneys and other homemade goods.

Marcus Binks, president of organising group the Victorian Goldpanning Association (VGA), said the local group is an important one to support.

“[Ballan Red Cross historian and] my mother Gail Binks took it upon herself last year to sell jams and other bits and pieces they normally sell at Red Cross events for fundraising,” he said.

“The expectation this year is to do something similar to help any few dollars go towards Red Cross.

“[Ms Binks has] been a long-time fundraiser for the group and always seems to do well at selling their goods. People who know the jams certainly know it’s good quality. They went like hotcakes last year.

“Red Cross has historically had an excellent foundation in supporting the community and we’re essentially a community organisation so we welcome these groups for members to come fundraise for a great outcome.”

The local Red Cross group, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in mid-2024, contributes to emergency efforts around the globe via various fundraising initiatives.

Ballan Red Cross chair Anne Eskdale said last year’s championships provided a great way to champion the local movement.

“We had our little sideline out there and managed to raise a few hundred dollar helps, which was good,” she said. “It’s important to keep the flag flying for Red Cross.

“I think it’s a great community event that brings something different to the area that brings a lot of different people to Blackwood and plays into that town’s gold history.”

The local group’s involvement in last year’s event added to a total of $7000 overall from fundraising efforts in 2024.

Originated by Sovereign Hill in the early 1990s, the Australian Gold Panning Championships has been run out of Blackwood for about a decade after the VGA took over the event 16 years ago.