Wet didn’t dampen spirit

RAIN dampened the Need For Feed bushfire benefit for the third year in a row – but the show went on.
Need for Feed coordinator and Pakenham Lions Club president Graham Cockerell said the legendary Aussie spirit was well and truly alive and well at the country music event, with organisers pushing on despite heavy precipitation.
Mr Cockerell has earned the nickname Noah – he picks the date for the show and it has rained three out of three times.
“We had to laugh about it – there was no use crying. Our sound guy reckons we should put the show on the road, hiring ourselves out as drought busters,” he said.
“On Saturday afternoon the rain was blowing so strongly and horizontally across the venue that you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.
“Fortunately, it didn’t last that long at a time and most of the action was under cover. Unfortunately, we hadn’t advertised the fact that we had a roof over us and a lot of people stayed away.” There were a few minor changes to the show held at the Pakenham Racecourse – the ute parade was planned to take place on the sand track but was moved to asphalt to ensure none got bogged.
About 30 utes thrilled rev-heads with a display of a myriad of lights and barking exhausts and were joined by about 50 more vehicles for the Ute Show proper on Sunday.
Proceedings on Sunday began with an interview with Ash Wednesday survivor, Barry Medwin, who spoke of a message of hope and encouragement for those who had lost all on Black Saturday.
Members of the Marysville Lion Club also made an appearance.
Mr Cockerell said numbers were down but the Need For Feed festival would still make a profit thanks to generous sponsors of the event.
Proceeds from the festival will be handed over to Lions District Disaster Funds on April 21st at the Cardinia Park Hotel in Beaconsfield, when the raffle is drawn.
First prize is a Queensland all-expenses paid four-day trip for four people courtesy of the Coolum Chamber of Commerce.
Anyone wishing to still contribute to the Need for Feed campaign can call Graham Cockerell on 5944 4111.