Colourful frocks and fancy fascinators filled Kilmore Racing Club on Thursday for another Oaks Day Luncheon raising money for Northern Health.
In its 13th year, the event is this year estimated to have raised between $7000 and $8000 – including $4000 from the raffles and silent auction – with the total still being counted at the time of publication.
Organiser Bev Carmen has been a patron of Northern Health for 16 years and has hosted the Oaks Day at Kilmore since 2010 – only missing events because of COVID restrictions.
“We’re delighted it was such a good event. I can’t put a number on the total yet but it’s between $7000 to $8000,” Ms Carmen said.
“The money usually goes towards equipment for cancer, but I think I may be putting it in with the other patrons’ donations because they’re trying to get a wellness centre going at the Northern Hospital, which will be wonderful but take a bit of money.”
Ninety people attended the event and Ms Carmen hoped the numbers would continue to increase.
“It just gives me more hope that there are still charitable people around,” she said.
“There were so many new faces around and that’s even more exciting because you can only build on that.
“The new ladies and girls that came told me how great it was so hopefully they bring back a friend next year and we can get to 110 attendees.”
Attendees enjoyed a three-course luncheon, a silent auction, and a raffle with this year’s major prize a stocked wine fridge.
Whittlesea’s Shanae Watson, who most recently appeared on reality television program The Voice, performed on the day.
“Shanae was just lovely. She was very pleasurable and a lovely girl so that made the day lovelier as well,” Ms Carmen said.
Ms Carmen has an ongoing partnership with the Kilmore Racing Club who was also a major sponsor for the luncheon.
Kilmore Racing Club marketing and partnerships manager Lindsey Melis said they worked closely with Ms Carmen to facilitate the event.
“She’s been really passionate about Northern Health and helping them out for quite sometime,” she said.
“We assist as a major sponsor so we contribute financially to the event as well as hosting the event and assisting with the details of it.
“I work really closely with helping Bev get additional sponsors, organising the raffles, and booking the singer among other things.”
Ms Carmen said she was grateful for Kilmore Racing Club’s support.
“They’re very good to me and they’ve helped me for a very long time now. I’m just so grateful to everyone who helped out and came along,” she said.
Donations can continue to be made to the Northern Health Foundation at support.nhfoundation.org.au/Donate-Now.
