Kilmore’s Kingsgate Village social club last month hosted a Christmas in July function, serving as both a social event and a fundraiser for those impacted by a fire on July 26.
A Kingsgate resident was killed in the fire that affected three homes.
The fundraiser featured a range of activities including a raffle, however instead of the money generated through raffle sales and donations going to the social club, it was divided and donated to the people directly affected by the fire.
A total of $3300 was raised at the event, with the number to be matched by Kingsgate Village management.
Social club vice president Graham Lainchbury said the event was a great example of community spirit.
“It just shows what the whole community here is like, there were people who did not come to the lunch but they still sent donations in. I was really impressed with it,” he said.
“It was quite impressive to see the community get together so to see this sort of thing here is just phenomenal.”
Mr Lainchbury said the woman who lost her husband in the fire was staying with her daughter elsewhere, however it was possible she could return to live at the village.
“Her daughter came and picked her up, but she was here at the lunch and there is talk of her coming back to the village when everything’s ready,” he said.
“The other affected party, the management relocated them into a brand new unit in the village, they took all the future they had in a display home and put it in for them.
“The people around here have also offered them blankets and everything they actually need to be able to carry on with their life, so they’re set up in there quite happily.”
