Staff and senior citizens at Flexible Care.

Last Friday, Murrumburrah-Harden Flexible Care held its mega raffle night at the Harden Bowling Club where three lucky winners received a major cash prize just in time for the end of the year. Maryanne Fitzgerald, Flexible Care CEO, said it was a great end to a great year. “It was a good night for Flexible Care and the Bowling Club. We boosted some much-needed sales down there that night with a good crowd in attendance,” she said.

“It’s imperative that we do fundraising right throughout to top up the shortfall in funding from the Government for the betterment of the clients. “It’s great that the community get behind it and support it.” The winners of the raffle on the night were Robyn Greentree who won the grand prize of $2,000, Julie Hawkins who received $1,000 and Peter Brown who won $500.

The winners were all over the moon with their wins, especially the big prize winner Robyn Greentree. “She was very excited. She couldn’t believe it to start with when she got the phone call.” Flexible Care have had an extremely busy year, finally getting out of Covid and running a successful weekly gathering called The Hub. “We will go into fundraising layoff now until we’ll kick off again, normally about March Easter time next year, so they have a nine-month program. “The board will look at that and set some dates, put wheels in motion for next year.”

The Hub has been going bigger and brighter since its cancellation due to Covid, the social meetings which allows a lot of senior citizens in Harden-Murrumburrah to have a social outlet has been met with huge success in its revival. “Tuesdays in our Hub have been busy with lots of activities and guest speakers. Other things we done throughout the year outside the Hub were, movies at the cinema, trips to Boorowa and Young, art gallery at Garangula, morning tea at the monastery, Christmas in July, Melbourne Cup luncheon, morning tea at Beggan Hill and much more.

“A very big thank you to our volunteers that have helped throughout the year from drivers, to community members with a special thank you to Kate Ward for all her time spent with us in the Hub. “We finished off with wreath making thanks to Mandy and a Christmas sing-a-long which we were able to use our iPad that was connected to our projector thanks to Keith Ward and Les Caple. “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year we will see you back in the Hub on January 24th.” Maryanne was also happy with how The Hub has gone this year, praising the team that helps it run as smoothly as it does every week. “It’s been fantastically well supported and enjoyed by the clients and we’ll continue to do so in the new year.”

Jack Murray