By Kath Gannaway
IT’S not every Shrove Tuesday one gets one’s pancakes served up by an Australia Day award winner.
Healesville community worker Flo Flood was in her element last Tuesday flipping pancakes with her colleagues from the Healesville Uniting Church as part of UnitingCare’s annual fund-raiser for disadvantaged Australians.
Mrs Flood received an Australia Day Certificate of Recognition from the Shire of Yarra Ranges last month for her contribution to the local community.
Her community work includes nine years as chairperson of HICCI (Healesville Interchurch Community Care Inc.), with Red Cross as Displan leader and with the Uniting Church – including several years as a Pancake Day volunteer.
“It’s nice, not only for me, but for the organisations I work for that the shire recognised the work people do in the community,” Ms Flood said.
Alyse Ismail of the Yarra Valley Clinic was among a steady flow of pancake-loving local workers who took advantage of the pre-order system put in place for the first time this year.
For others happening upon take-away pancakes in the main street – and for a good cause – was win/win!
Last year’s Pancake Day helped raise $125,000 for agencies across Victoria and Tasmania to support services for the homeless, abused and vulnerable children and adults, the frail-aged and disabled and families in crisis. Healesville’s contribution this year is more than $440.
UnitingCare has extended Pancake Day this year from a one day event on Shrove Tuesday to the entire month of February. Anyone wishing to hold a Pancake Day fund-raiser can register by phoning 1800 060 543.