PROCEEDS from the huge Reg Mombassa raffle at the Gallery in the Gardens (GiG) have been donated to the Pindimar/Tea Gardens Rural Fire Brigade, with a whopping record intake over the summer period.
In October last year, when the GiG Committee and artists were planning their summer exhibition, “Mambo on the Myall, from Mombassa to Cuba”, they decided to run a raffle during the event, and to donate those proceeds to the Pindimar/Tea Gardens RFS Brigade.
“A major feature of the exhibition was the giant inflatable fish sculpture that was designed by Reg Mombassa for the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics,” GiG President Anne Stuart told News Of The Area.
“It created tremendous interest in town for the two months of the exhibition.
“The Reg Mombassa Studio that sells Reg’s merchandise very kindly donated a limited edition print and an autographed book of Reg’s artworks for raffle prizes.”
“Little did we know in October how bushfires would impact our towns in December and January.”
Anne was referring to the massive bushfire that ignited along the highway just north of Tea Gardens.
It led to an enormous effort by volunteers of several RFS brigades, local and around the Mid Coast District, along with National Parks firefighters – with operations based at Bulahdelah Showground.
The raffle was an enormous success, outselling the gallery’s previous raffles by a wide margin, allowing Anne to present the Pindimar/Tea Gardens Brigade Captain David Bright with a symbolic cheque for a very real donation of $3,000.
First prize in the raffle went to Fingal Bay, second prize to North Arm Cove and third to Hawks Nest.
Despite some rain over Christmas and New Year the fire was not fully extinguished, and flared back to life in late January/early February.
Local and District firies were again called upon to protect the twin towns of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest, demonstrating that the choice of fundraising recipient was fortuitous.
The Gallery’s committee and artists are already cooking up their next events for the year ahead, with the annual Easter treasure hunt along the waterfront on the agenda, as well as an event for Mothers Day in May.
The much-anticipated Winter at the Gallery exhibition starts early June.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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