With the success of this year’s Moree on a Plate Food and Wine Festival well documented, the local community can now enjoy the spoils of this prosperity.
Moree on a Plate Festival President Bethany Kelly was thrilled to recently donate a cheque for $3,370 to the Ngala Moree Women’s Refuge.
Penny Boydell, President of Ngala Moree Women’s Refuge said the organisation was very grateful for the donation, which will go towards new clothing, particularly pyjamas and underwear, for the service.
“We rely on donations, which are hugely appreciated, but sometimes when a women and her children turn up in the middle of the night with only the clothes on their back, it is nice to be able to offer them some new clothes.”
Ngala Moree Women’s Refuge is a crisis centre for women of all cultures and children, including boys up to the age of 14.
The 24 hour service, which has run for decades in Moree, is a much needed, and frequented service.
Mrs Boydell said programs such as healthy relationships and anger management are also run from the centre.
Mrs Kelly said each year an organisation is voted on by the Moree on a Plate Committee for a funding donation.
“This is our first donation to Ngala Moree Women’s Refuge, and as a committee we were unanimous in our vote, we all felt this was such an important service for our Moree community.”
While the Festival is self-funded through the generosity of local business house sponsorship and donations, a Moree on a Plate Raffle – run by the committee – ensures some proceeds from the event go directly back into the community.
This year’s raffle, comprising of prize items again donated by generous local businesses, was a showstopper.
“The calibre and volume of prizes was outstanding, as was the generosity of those donating, and raffle ticket sales.”
With extra proceeds raised, Moree on a Plate was also thrilled to donate three I-Pads and screen protectors to The Moree Hospital Emergency Department.
Sue Coleman, Emergency Department Nurse Unit Manager, said the hospital was extremely grateful for the generous donation.
“The staff is so pleased to receive these I-Pads, they are such a valuable tool to use to distract and entertain children admitted into the Emergency Department.”
“We would like to thank all the Moree on a Plate Committee, it’s a huge job you do, it takes a lot of organisation and hard work, but we’re so lucky to have you to unite and entertain our town and benefit so many local organisations at the same time.”
And in another exceptional gesture of generosity, Grove Juice – first time exhibitors at this year’s festival and a generous sponsor – also pledged to donate half its takings to the final donation.
“We managed to raise $2,150 ourselves and then to have Grove Juice donate another $370.00 is phenomenal and we would like to say a huge thank you,’ Mrs Kelly said.
Grove Juice is a locally owned national juice company with oranges grown here in Moree and processed in Warwick.