Rodney Stevens

Residents of Yamba’s Grevillea Waters village, their family and friends enjoyed another successful Cancer Care fundraiser on May 28 when more than 150 people packed their community hall to help raise $13,500 for the Oncology Patient Care Units at Grafton and Lismore hospitals.

Over the past four financial years, from June 1 to May 31, Grevillea Waters residents, led by the hard working Caner Care committee of Marie Grant, Toni Lynch, Sue Kenny, Alida Swanston, Ruth Brown, June Winser, and Jan Rennex, hold raffles and have a permanent ‘shop’ in the community hall with handmade and donated good for sale, which has seen the village raise more than $38,265 for cancer patient services at Grafton and Lismore.

Each year’s fundraising culminates in an annual Big Raffle Day plus morning tea for more than 150 people.

Grevillea Waters Cancer Care committee said the number of small businesses that have supported the event over the years, with either a cash donation, raffle prizes, vouchers, or to match purchases dollar for dollar has grown from 29 in 2021, to 96 in 2024.

“Each business is asked for whatever they can afford, and all are keen to assist as all money raised goes to Grafton and Lismore Hospitals for cancer care patient services while undergoing treatments,” the committee said.

At this year’s event there were 5 big raffles, plus a special ‘Car Care raffle’ which had prizes of car mechanical services and detailing services from local businesses.

Each big raffle had vouchers ranging from $20 to $100 in value, with about 25 vouchers per raffle, plus attendees went in the draw for 20 Lucky Door prizes including coffee vouchers and a huge, beautiful flower arrangement.

The Grevillea Waters community hall was full, with many people spilling out onto the veranda, and the committee said there were very few people who attended who left without winning a prize of some sort.