Tongala Development Group memebers Kellie Brennan and Amber Townsend have taken the lead since the inauguration of the Eats and Beats event.
Tongala Development Group’s Eats and Beats co-ordinators Kellie Brennan and Amber Townsend didn’t need to wear the bright yellow vests on Sunday — everyone knew who they were.
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Alongside equally active TDG volunteers Jason Kelley and David Simpkin they were among the handful of passionate townspeople busily sharing their time at the various food stalls and the entertainment activities and accepted the pats on the backs of appreciative locals.
Sunday was the fourth year of the annual event, this year again supported heavily by Community Bank Tongala and Mathoura, along with Campaspe Shire Council.
“We’ve had a lot of help again this year; Linda Wilson is running a silent disco and a lot of people turned up this morning to help set up,” Amber Townsend said.
“GTS brought the fencing down to us on a forklift and there were several others who made our job easier.”
She explained the event delivered a message consistent with that of the place based plan that the group was working through with council
“We will have a dog park up and running soon and only days before our event an access ramp to the soundshell was installed by council,” she said.
Ms Townsend said the group offered feedback to Mayor Rob Amos a couple of years ago and the ramp was the result of that conversation.
“There are now no limits as to who we can invite be part of the event. It also allows anyone access to the mural at the soundshell,” she said.
The alcohol-free and family-friendly event featured food stalls from Tongala, Kyabram, Bendigo and Nagambie — everything from donuts to Indian food and the obligatory Tongala Primary School barbecue.
Four-year-old Rylee Cruz from Kyabram was enjoying more eats than beats when she was caught tucking into a Tongala Primary School sausage on Sunday.
“The Indian food truck actually saved us when we had a late withdrawal. They came on board last minute,” Ms Townsend said.
Established businesses in the street also benefited, with the committee encouraging people to access coffee or alternate hot food options from the neighbouring café.
Among the many stallholders at the event were a Stanhope couple who will next week start the trek from Bendigo to Townsville as part of the Shitbox Rally.
They have been raising funds for 12 months, and since featuring on the front page of the Free Press have gone from $6000 to $14,000.
Rambling Man Grim Fawkner in full voice during the Eats and Beats festival.
“We are hoping to get to $15,000,” one half of the duo, Jacqui Ball, said.
The couple’s car had to be worth no more than $1500 and they had to raise $5000 to qualify for the event.
They have taken things to the next level by adopting a Smokey and the Bandit theme, the 1977 car racing comedy starring Burt Reynolds, and Jacqui’s partner, Jack Graves, has paid his own tribute to the star.
“He shaved his beard off last night and kept the moustache as a tribute to Burt,” Jacqui said, explaining it was “a bit of a surprise when I woke up”.
The couple spent five years in West Australia for work and have been back in the area for eight months.
Jack Graves with his Smokey and the Bandit moustache, alongside partner Jacqui Ball. They will drive from Bendigo to Townsville as part of the Cancer Council’s Shitbox Rally.
There was one other fund-raising option for music and food fans, with Tongala Fire Brigade offering the opportunity to contribute towards the purchase of a new $95,000 community support vehicle
“We bought the current vehicle nine years ago, but it was second-hand and we have to replace it within a time frame under CFA operational conditions,” brigade secretary Melinda Emmett said.
The vehicle is used to transport crews “on big jobs” to and from fires and also transports the brigade members to emergency sites.
“We also use it as a command vehicle,” Ms Emmett said
“We own a lot of our own fire-fighting assets, but we have raised only $12,000 so far and we need to do some serious fundraising.”
If the brigade can raise at least half of the required amount its members are hopeful of sourcing the remaining funds through alternate measures.
Anyone interested in supporting the group can email Ms Emmett at Tongalacfasecretary@outlook.comor donate directly through the CFA website.
Sunday’s fourth annual staging of the Tongala Eats and Beats event attracted the usual great response from the community.
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