By KATH GANNAWAY
IT MAY be a new Easter tradition, but it’s one that has become a ‘must do’ part of Warburton’s Easter.
Musician John Seegers and supporters have organised the Warburton Annual Easter Fund-raiser for the past five years, raising over $40,000 for local groups and bringing locals and visitors together for fun.
This year the event will be held at the Warburton Football Ground with local bands Ruckus and the Yarra River Band on stage for a lively afternoon of great rock, country and blues music.
The Yarra River Band was formed in 2009 and has a great following at festivals and hotels including the Reefton and Sam Knott, and at other gathering places such as the Warburton Golf Club and Alfred’s Homestead in Warrandyte.
The multi-award winning Ruckus has played at festivals and venues locally and around the country and has a growing legion of fans.
The Easter Fund-raiser will be a real treat for those fans, and would-be fans, with the band including some of its latest originals, including the title to their award-winning CD ‘Love This Country’ that debuted at 26 in the Top 40 of the Country Music Charts.
Along with the music, there will be a sausage sizzle, coffee and tea and a visit from the ice-cream van, and loads of space to spread a picnic rug, and for the kids to run off some of their easter-egg-fuelled energy.
Local businesses have once again been outstandingly generous with Upper Yarra Community Enterprise (Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank) sponsoring the event, Warburton Hardware donating first prize of a wheelbarrow full of tools, and numerous other businesses donating great prizes.
Raffle tickets will be on sale in the lead-up to Easter at the Warburton Hardware and the caravan park.
Over the years, local schools, sporting clubs, emergency services and Ted’s Track Keepers have been among the groups supported by the event.
The Easter Fund-raiser is free, but, as the name implies, the aim is to raise funds, so be sure to take along some spending money to an all-round success.
Be sure also to take along your dancing shoes. According to John, there’s never been an Easter Fund-raiser yet without the Nutbush, and 2015 won’t be any different.
“It’s all about having fun, families and friends getting together to enjoy a relaxing Easter Sunday with music and dancing, and helping our local organisations,” John said.
“We love putting it on and are hoping that this year is the biggest ever.”
The event runs from noon to 5pm.
