Over the past six years we've copped flooding rains, prolonged drought, a mouse plague and COVID-19.
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Yet in those six years, tough by anyone's definition, the incredible community of Trundle has raised $100,000 for the Cancer Council to direct to women's cancers.
The sixth annual Trundle Pink Ribbon Night was on last Saturday night, and raised a whopping $28,000 for the cause.
Organisers Carolyn Keep and Debbie Veale were astounded by the results, having initially been uncertain they'd even be able to draw a crowd with COVID-19 restrictions including the absence of ABBA Festival visitors after the festival's cancellation.
Yet when they crunched the numbers they realised that overall the event was just $640 short of having raised $100,000 across its lifespan.
The fundraising page opened back up, the appeal went out on Facebook, and the amazing community dug deep yet again.
A delighted Carolyn watched the donations roll in and then - on Thursday afternoon - reach the target in a moment that speaks volumes about the spirit of the people of Trundle.
"You wouldn't get a better community," she said.
"This town comes to the party with everything for charity. They're brilliant."
Their response on this occasion she can only describe as, "absolutely phenomenal".
Cassandra Sullivan, Community Relations Coordinator for the Cancer Council in Orange, says the funds will be used to continue to fund critical research, services and programs for cancer patients and their carers.
"For regional NSW this includes services such as transport to treatment, subsidised accommodation plus a dedicated support line where patients have access to a range of tools and programs to provide them with both practical and emotional support," she explained.
She expressed the organisation's thanks to the community for getting behind Cancer Council and the vision for a cancer-free future.
"We are so beyond grateful for the contribution that Carolyn, Debbie and the whole of the Trundle community have made to Cancer Council through the Trundle Pink Ribbon event," Cassandra said.
ENJOY THE MEMORIES
Trundle Pink Ribbon Night was birthed after Carolyn's own cancer diagnosis in 2015.
"Everybody was so amazing to me," she reflected, explaining she wanted to give back after the support she was shown.
The first pink night was held on the eve of the 2016 ABBA festival and raised about $6500.
They'd had such a good time doing it that there was absolutely going to be another event, and so it's continued with the dress-ups, the decorations and the live music growing from year to year.
Auctioneer Rob Hellyer steers the main event, the auction, to amazing success each time.
Donations have poured in for the raffles and the auctions over the years, and overwhelmingly it is the locals who have dug deep to buy the big-ticket auction items.
It's never been more evident than when you look at the past two years, which have raised $14,000 and $28,468 respectively without the ABBA crowd.
The Champion Post offered our congratulations to Carolyn and Deb for their work, but Carolyn maintains, "It's the town."
"Deb and I drive the event but they do it," she said. "They come with their donations, and they come with their money."
Absolutely they do, well done Trundle.
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