This crazy, stinking hot, freezing cold, blowing-a-gale weather we’ve been experiencing can only mean one thing – it’s time for the Wimmera Machinery Field Days!
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I can’t wait to get out amongst it for three days of making change, as I work embedded in the team of dedicated Operation 19:14 volunteers, occupying the ticket booths on all four entry gates.
Fundraising for our free family fun day, which is held at the end of August, has never been so social.
Sausage sizzles and delivering phone books are all very well as money-making campaigns go.
However, with thousands of people from all over the country pouring into the Longerenong field days site through the four gates, our team members are constantly running into long lost acquaintances and chatting up a storm.
There are other perks that come with the job, too.
All our volunteers enjoy free entry to the event, making the most of it by heading off to their favourite attractions at the end of their shifts.
Personally, I can’t go past the gourmet food – ice-cream, Indian curry, olive oils or Italian roasted nuts.
I’m always ready to dine. First things first though, all field days roads lead to the best gourmet coffee, which must be identified early on to ensure survival.
While we have a terrific team of 50 from our combined churches effort, I imagine there are a number of rosters flying around Wimmera email systems at present as volunteer teams that provide hot barbecue lunches, icy cold drinks and reviving rounds of sandwiches, gather numbers to pull off their biggest fundraiser of the year.
At least two of my three girls are pretty keen to be out amongst the action too, with some fairly intense pressure being applied by 14-year-old Yasinta.
Both big girls modelled for Horsham College last year, while Tiani kept me company on the scooter for one day of the event, as I raced around from gate to gate making sure we had the right change for visitors.
Tomorrow, as I strap on my high-visibility vest again, I must remember to layer up so that I can start with a warm coat and end with a cool T-shirt and sunscreen.
All while making great use of sunglasses and a hat to keep the dust out in between.
See you there!
