The Mail-Times talked with Mrs Carmen Dridan, Holy Trinity Lutheran College Parents Teachers and Friends Association president, about the value of the school's drinks kiosk at the event.

How long has HTLC been running the kiosk at field days?

Approximately 25 years.

What has been the biggest change at Field Days since you first started running the kiosk?

The WMFD are growing and evolving every year, so to ensure our kiosk remains successful we need to also evaluate and make small changes each year. The PTFA Wimmera Machinery Field Days Sub Committee review each years event and discuss both the positive and negative outcomes from the three days then put into place an action plan for next year. Over the years our menu items have changed to suit our clientele and so have our hours of operation and number of volunteers.

How much money has the school raised in the time it has been running the kiosk at Field Days? What sorts of things has this money helped the school purchase?

Over the years, using funds raised from the WMFD the PTFA have been able to raise funds to support student engagement and learning through the purchase of equipment and resources. Some of our most recent purchases have been Athletics and Science (Robotics) equipment, Cricket Net Refurbishment and a Trailer for our Human Powered Vehicles.

Is the kiosk helping to raise funds for anything particular for the school this year?

This year's focus is to help fund an upgrade to our Junior playground equipment.

What do the children get out of manning the kiosk?

Allowing the students to take on roles within the kiosk provides them with an opportunity to focus on customer service skills, manage and work within a team environment, learn proper food handling processes whilst interacting with members of our community. It is fantastic to watch how each student embraces the experience as it builds their self confidence and relationships with their peers as they work together as a team.

How many children will man the kiosk this year?

In past years we have been fortunate to have approximately 15 of our senior students assist within the kiosk alongside the many generous parents and members of our school community who kindly volunteer their time.

. Antwerp Tennis Club

. Green Park Kindergarten Horsham

. Horsham East Rotary Club

. Horsham Miniature Railway Assoc

. Horsham Primary School

. Horsham Scouts Association

. Natimuk United Football & Netball Club

. Laharum Sports Inc

. Longerenong Agricultural College

. Minyip Murtoa Football & Netball Club

. Operation 19:14 Combined Churches of Horsham

. Pimpinio Football & Netball Club

. Taylors Lake Football & Netball Club

. Woodbine Warracknabeal

Wimmera Machinery Field Days event manager Murray Wilson said it also provided free passes to a large community health and aged care facilities from throughout the region enabling those patrons to visit the Field Days each year for free.

Participating organisations exhibiting for this year include:

. CFA Dooen Brigade

. Country Women's Association

. Dunmunkle Sump Oilers

. Horsham Lapidary Club

. Horsham Lions

. Horsham Men's Shed

. Beyond Blue

. Samaritans Purse

. Wimmera Hearing Society

. Ambulance Victoria

Relay for Life

Prostate Support Group

A Community Site - Wimmera Events Centre

Any surplus revenue collected from operating the Field Days each year is used directly to fund and cover costs of the operation of the annual Field Days event which is significant. Operating surplus is also directly reinvested back into the Wimmera Events Centre site. It enables the entire site to continue to be improved for a wide variety of events throughout the year for an ever increasing range of new business and community user groups needing a major events venue.

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