Tag Archives: Piggy Bank Appeal

Piggy Bank Appeal brings home the bacon

A huge $1,043,788 has been raised in the 2015 Piggy Bank Appeal to help more than 900 Victorian families caring for children with life-threatening conditions.

Five giant piggy banks travelled 6,958 kilometres across Victoria collecting donations, with the support of 271 volunteers, 88 ALH Group venues, 283 Commonwealth Banks and numerous other businesses and organisations.

Very Special Kids CEO Sarah Hosking says the funds raised will enable Very Special Kids to continue its important work.

“We are extremely grateful for the generous support of our corporate partners, our volunteers, and the Victorian community, for enabling us to care for more than 900 families across the state.

“While the future is uncertain for many of these families and their children, one thing they can rely on is that Very Special Kids will be there to offer respite and end-of-life care through the hospice and practical and emotional support through our Family Support Services and Family Service Volunteers, and all free-of-charge.

“It costs $7million per year to operate Very Special Kids. Thank you for helping us give these families that certainty,” said Sarah.

On Tuesday night a finale event for the 2015 Piggy Bank Appeal, recognised the businesses, community groups and individuals that worked tirelessly throughout the month of September to raise funds for Very Special Kids, including major partners Seven News Melbourne, Commonwealth Bank and ALH Group. Awards were presented to those who went the extra mile.

Piggy Bank Appeal Awards

Supporting Partner and Media Awards

ADVENT PRINT MEDIA provided the Piggy Bank Appeal with a variety of printing solutions including posters, newsletters, banners and merchandise boxes
WTFN ENTERTAINMENT filmed and produced our television commercial for Channel Seven and the Scott family videos. They are experts in producing television content
MAKE IT HAPPEN is the creative and design team that bring our Piggy Bank Appeal images and messages to life
SMOOTH FM 91.5 helped ensure a successful Piggy Bank Appeal with community service announcements, radio mentions and website promotions
TOYOTA has again provided five vehicles for this year’s Piggy Bank Appeal. You will have seen our giant piggy banks cruising around town. They have travelled across Victoria on the back of Toyota Klugers
LEADER COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS receive a Community Award who spreading the word by publishing family stories and photos to publicise our fundraising events and activities.

Major Partner Awards

COMMONWEALTH BANK branches throughout Victoria accept donations from their local communities and also stage fantastic events that raise significant funds for the Piggy Bank Appeal
SEVEN NEWS have supported the Piggy Bank Appeal since its inception. Without this important media support we would not be able to spread our message to the people of Victoria. We thank Peter Mitchell for being our Piggy Bank Appeal Ambassador again this year
ALH GROUP supports the Piggy Bank Appeal by fundraising in its 88 venues across Victoria and also made a major contribution by getting right into the spirit of the Piggy Trails

ALH Group Awards

Recognition Award for Category A – MORWELL HOTEL, who raised $5,321
Highest Fundraiser for Category A – BLUE BELL HOTEL, who raised $6,080
Recognition Award for Category B – OLINDA CREEK HOTEL, who raised $11,001
Highest Fundraiser for Category B – BURVALE HOTEL, who raised $12,258
Recognition Award for Category C – SEAFORD HOTEL, who raised $15,040
Highest Fundraiser for Category C – SKYWAYS HOTEL, who raised $20,121
Overall Highest Fundraising Venue for the ALH Group – SKYWAYS HOTEL, who raised $20,121

Commonwealth Bank Awards

Branch recognition award – ROSEBUD, who raised $2,251
3rd Highest Fundraising Branch – TRARALGON, who raised $2,521
2nd Highest Fundraising Branch –MORNINGTON, who raised $5,370
Highest Fundraising Branch –CASTLEMAINE, who raised $7,384
Overall Highest Fundraising Branch –CASTLEMAINE, who raised $7,384

Lotto Outlet Awards

Tatts Lotto outlets have supported the Piggy Bank Appeal since its inception.

3rd Highest Fundraising Lotto – BP PRAHRAN, who raised $3,170
2nd Highest Fundraising Lotto – CLIFTON HILL LOTTO, who raised $8,076
Highest Fundraising Lotto – INVERLOCH LOTTO, who raised $8,128

Community Supporter Awards

Recognition Award Community Supporter – HEALESVILLE RSL, who raised $10,563
3rd Highest Community Supporter – KEILOR EAST RSL, who raised $11,820
2nd Highest Community Supporter – PANTRY BRIGHTON, who raised $17,459
Highest Community Supporter – WESTEND MARKET HOTEL, who raised $17,898

Volunteer Awards

Rising Star Award – RENEE GARNER & DAVID SZELECZKY
Renee & David came on board as volunteers for the 2015 Piggy Bank Appeal with gusto! In only a couple of months they have learnt to tow the pigs, spread the piggy spirit around Prahran Market and Bourke Street Mall, and even took on their first regional trail around the South West of Victoria. Corporate high flyers during the week, they successfully become pig suit and feather boa wearing fundraising superstars on weekends!
Volunteer Recognition Award – SUE SERRA
In the eight years Sue has volunteered she has travelled more than 6000km (almost halfway to Rome), eaten over 66kg of sausages cooked by local Rotary members, sold 12,000 items of merchandise, sprayed her hair pink 10 times, visited 82 CBAs and 22 ALH venues, shaved five person’s heads, visited four pig farms selling pig poo and helped raised more than $100,000.

Meet the Scott family

The Scott family is the face of this year’s Piggy Bank Appeal and they represent more than 900 families across Victoria who are supported by Very Special Kids. Mum Robyn Scott shares their story.

I still remember that first day Kyan was finally discharged from hospital after eight long weeks. As I put him in the car, he started having another seizure.

I just remember thinking “Why is the hospital sending us home? He’s not fixed”. He wasn’t the same child I arrived in emergency with. He no longer smiled, or rolled or even recognised me. It was heartbreaking and I felt so alone and unsupported. It was such a shock; my life had taken such a turn.

Everyone has certain dreams of what they want to do in life. Whether that is to have a successful career, to travel, to have kids. When that dream comes true, you feel blessed and so unbelievably happy that you almost feel invincible.

To then have it all change in the blink of an eye is something that will stay with you forever.
My husband Matthew and I had just that. We had a beautiful baby boy Kyan. Our first born. Who we had created this bond with and we were loving every minute of it.

Little did we know that was all about to change.
Kyan was four months old when he had his first seizure.

We were on a family holiday on the Gold Coast. We had to take him to the hospital because we had no idea what was wrong with our little boy. He was in and out of hospital for months while doctors struggled to get his seizures under control.

We soon found out what was affecting him. I’ll never forget the look of horror on the nurses’ faces when they were looking at the screen at Kyan’s test results. Kyan had two brain abnormalities which had resulted in cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

We had lost our little boy. He no longer recognised us. We were scared. We had no idea what our little boy was going to be able to do. He was just like a newborn again.

Kyan is now nine years old. He’s not your typical nine year old. He’s in nappies. He needs us to feed him. He needs us to bath him. He needs us for everything. He can’t kick the footy with his dad. Or run around and play with his younger brother Hayden and twin sisters Maddison and Eloise. But he does give Matthew and I the best smiles and loving hugs. When Kyan is upset, his brother Hayden brings him his favourite toy, or his two twin sisters mother and nurture him.

These little things are what makes me so proud of my family.

After Kyan’s initial diagnosis, the thought of having another child was unimaginable. Kyan’s condition is genetic so we were worried that if we had another child they might have the same condition. We eventually decided we would have more children and I am so happy we did. As our family grew, one of the most positive things for me is that the kids don’t know Kyan any other way. To them, Kyan is their older brother, they accept him for who he is.

I love the people my children have become because of Kyan.

We are a lot stronger and a lot happier. Our strength is also thanks to Very Special Kids. They give us an extra layer of support that we wouldn’t have otherwise.

When Kyan stays at Very Special Kids Hospice it allows Matthew and I to have a break when we need it and spend quality time with our other children. It’s comforting to know we don’t have to worry about Kyan. We know that he is in good hands when he stays at the Hospice.

He loves it there. So do Hayden, Maddison and Eloise. They have even re-named the hospice to “The Piggy House”. It makes me so happy to see Kyan’s face light up when we take him to the Hospice. One of his favourite rooms is the Multi-Sensory room, which I now have to try to replicate in our house he loves it so much.

Kyan’s prognosis has a big question mark above it. We don’t know what his future holds. We can only hope for a happy and healthy life for him.

We have recently put in a vagal nerve stimulator which is helping with the severity of the seizures. It will never control them, but we hope it can get them to a level where they are not impacting his heart and his breathing. Sometimes his seizures are so bad that if he has them during the night I am too scared to go into his room in the morning. I wait outside his door to hear a noise from him to know he is ok.

Our concerns for Kyan as he gets older are his height and weight. As he grows, day-to-day activities such as bathing him, changing his nappy, getting him in and out of the car will become harder. We are currently in the process of building a wheelchair friendly home to suit Kyan’s needs. We will continue to care for Kyan in our home as long as we possibly can. Having Very Special Kids for support will definitely make it a whole lot easier.

Other families can turn to their family members for support. It’s just not as easy for us to do that with Kyan. It’s a big ask, and we don’t feel comfortable doing it. But we are lucky we have Very Special Kids. We know that they are always there for us when we need them. Having that extra support network is invaluable, and we are so grateful we have access to it.

Telling you my story has brought up mixed emotions for me. I forgot the pain that we felt when Kyan had his first seizure, when we found out about his condition, when we first realised we had lost the little boy that we had created a bond with.

It’s humbling to know there are people out there that support Very Special Kids. You might not know every family’s story but you now know mine. And there’s a place that looks after families like ours.

On behalf of all the Very Special Kids families, I thank you for supporting and believing in this amazing organisation.

A much-needed break for the Macfarlaine’s

15-year-old Alexander Macfarlaine from Mt Eliza loves the sunshine, walks around the peninsula and school. He also loves his family, parents Helen and Kevin and sister Evalouise (8).

Alexander was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and an intellectual disability before his first birthday.

“There is no cure for his condition so it’s a life-long responsibility to care for his every need,” says Helen.

Helen and Kevin approach caring for his complex needs as a team effort, but know it’s important for them to take a break and do some of the things other families would take for granted.

“Going to work, the gym, on holiday or socialising with friends and family, helps us engage with the normal world and have a break from caring,” says Helen.

Alexander’s visits to Very Special Kids Hospice have enabled his family to take much needed holidays.

“Having holidays away from Alexander allows us to have a good rest, confident he is well looked after,” says Helen.

“We have come back from holidays rested, refreshed and re-energised, helping us to continue to look after him.”

Helen and Kevin are grateful for the invaluable support Very Special Kids provides not only to their family, but to other families caring for children with needs like Alexander’s.

“We hope Very Special Kids is always able to provide its services to families caring for children with high needs,” says Helen.

Very Special Kids supports 223 families in the Southern region of Melbourne, and 900 across Victoria, that are caring for children with life-threatening conditions, by providing 24-hour nursing care at Very Special Kids Hospice and family support services.

A Family Support Worker in Hastings provides emotional and practical support and organises group therapy programs for families in Mornington and Southern parts of Melbourne.

It costs $7 million per year to operate Very Special Kids, with all services free-of-charge to families. Please help us continue to support children like Alexander, and their families, by donating to the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal.

Meet Dawn McKenzie – Very Special Kids volunteer

80-year-old Dawn McKenzie has been volunteering with Very Special Kids for 20 years, and she’s still going strong.

Dawn first discovered Very Special Kids in 1995 when an advertisement calling for volunteers in her local community newspaper caught her eye.

“I went along to a meeting, did the volunteer training course and it’s been the best thing I ever did,” she said.

As a Family Support Volunteer, Dawn has directly helped four families by providing regular love and support to the child with a life-threatening condition and their family. She says while each family is different, it is all about providing support for the whole family unit.

“My first family I was looking after the father as well, taking him to Monash Medical and I would also take one of the siblings to the movies and work with the child that was non-verbal.”

But more often than not Dawn was there to provide companionship and emotional support for the parents of the sick child or provide respite care. She has been linked with her current family for six years now and continues to provide a tremendous amount of support for them.

“I feel honoured to be part of Very Special Kids, I really do. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life besides have my family,” she said.

In 1997 when the Piggy Bank Appeal began, she joined the Piggy Trails. Since then she has participated in metro and regional trails across Victoria.

Dawn is keen to support Very Special Kids in any way she can and enjoys fundraising by organising movie nights and dinners. Through these events Dawn has raised $105,111 to support the vital work of Very Special Kids.

With an altruistic and friendly spirit, Dawn continues to look forward to volunteering and wishes others would do the same.

“I love being able to meet and help new people. I just think being able to help people is what makes it so special.”

Find out more about volunteering for Very Special Kids

Supporting the Hubbard family unit

Very Special Kids supports 46 families in the Hume region, and 900 across Victoria, that are caring for children with life-threatening conditions, by providing 24-hour nursing care at Very Special Kids Hospice and family support services. One of those families is the Hubbard family from Albury, parents Lillian and Terry and children Kyra (17) and Tyson (15).

Tyson, now 15, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at just six weeks old from a special heel prick test but despite the shock of the diagnosis the Hubbard’s were not surprised.

Lillian says they felt there was something just not right with their little boy.

“We knew there was something wrong. I can’t tell you how weird the feeling is, you are relieved that you know what it is but you know there’s a whole other game you’ll have to play,” Lillian says.

At the time, the family lived in Shepparton but soon moved to Melbourne due to frequent hospital admissions. This is when they first discovered the services that Very Special Kids provides to families with children life-threatening conditions.

Tyson not only battles Cystic Fibrosis, which is an incurable lung and digestive system malfunction, but also has a secondary lung disease and diabetes. Despite his obvious challenges Lillian says Tyson never lets the disease get him down.

“It has made him the kid that he is,” she says.

“He doesn’t like to upset people; he likes to make sure that everyone else around him is ok too.”

This year has been especially tough on Tyson with his lung function slipping and requiring hospitalisation, which involved a round of antibiotics and 14 days of intensive physiotherapy.

The family have been supported by Very Special Kids through a Very Special Kids trained family support volunteer, who helped out with caring for Tyson’s sister Kyra when the children were young.

Lillian says having a family support volunteer was a “life-saver”, especially when Tyson required hospitalisation.

“I don’t know how I would have got through the tough times without the help,” she says.

“The fact that they’re there for the whole family is very important – it’s a family unit and that’s why we love it.”

Now, living in Albury, the family are supported by the Hume Family Support Worker who offers emotional and practical support.

Very Special Kids operates an office in Shepparton with a Family Support Worker providing support to families in the Hume region including counselling and advocacy, and coordinating local programs and events that provide families the opportunity to meet each other and share information and experiences.

It costs $7 million per year to operate Very Special Kids, with all services free-of-charge to families. Please help us continue to support children like Tyson, and their families, by donating to the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal.

Commonwealth Bank pretty in piggy pink

Five giant piggy banks, 283 Commonwealth Banks, 60 volunteers and thousands of customers all over Victoria will be getting pretty in piggy pink on Friday 25 September to raise money for the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal.

As long-standing major partners of the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal, the Commonwealth Bank will be holding their annual Commonwealth Bank Very Special Day next Friday, with branches decorating their premises in all things piggy and pink, and inviting customers and local residents to join in a range of activities including sausage sizzles, cake stalls, piggy toy sales and games.

The Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal runs throughout September and seeks to raise more than $1 million to support families caring for children with life threatening conditions.

Very Special Kids CEO Dr Sarah Hosking said that the contribution of Commonwealth Bank has been instrumental in the continued success of the appeal.

“Commonwealth Bank has supported us since the appeal began in 1998, helping us to raise millions of dollars and make a significant difference to the lives of the brave families we support,” she said.

Commonwealth Bank Regional General Manager Vic Melbourne Michelle Winzer and Regional General Manager Victoria & Tasmania Richard Porter, said the Commonwealth Bank is proud to continue its association with Very Special Kids in the amazing work they continue to do each and every day.

“Collectively we recognise that we can make a major difference to the lives of families with kids with life threatening conditions and it thrills us to be involved in the appeal.

“We encourage all Victorians to join with us by buying some piggy merchandise or making a donation during the Piggy Bank appeal this September,” they said.

Very Special Kids supports more than 900 Victorian families caring for children with life-threatening conditions, by providing 24-hour nursing care at Very Special Kids Hospice and family support services.

Commonwealth Bank Very Special Day events will be held at branches all over Victoria; a giant piggy bank will make an appearance at the following locations:

Commonwealth Bank Malvern
146 Glenferrie Road, Malvern
10.00am-2.00pm
Commonwealth Bank Ashburton
205 High Street, Ashburton
10.00am-3.00pm
Commonwealth Bank Rosebud
1073-1075 Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud
10.00am-3.00pm
Commonwealth Bank Castlemaine
167 Barker Street, Castlemaine
10.00am-4.00pm

Find a Commonwealth Bank branch near you

Meet Bill Hearn – Very Special Kids volunteer

Meet Bill Hearn, 68. Bill has been volunteering on the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal for the past 17 years.

Why do you continue to volunteer for the Piggy Bank Appeal?
Not only is volunteering fun, but you are exposed to a very generous side of humanity. When you explain to people the support given to families by Very Special Kids, they respond in great way.

I am inspired by the work of Very Special Kids Patron Sister Margaret Noone and the passion and compassion she has for supporting children with life-threatening conditions and their families.

Assisting children with life-threatening conditions and their families is so important. The trails are vital in raising awareness of Very Special Kids as well as raising money to support families. Not only does the public need to know about the important work of Very Special Kids, but families need to know where they can access assistance when they need it.

What do you most enjoy about volunteering?
I enjoy meeting the families supported by Very Special Kids and seeing the support they receive not only for their child, but for the whole family. They are the real heroes. It warms my heart to know the tiny bit I contribute is making a contribution to their lives.

I also get a lot of fun out of volunteering. The teams you go on trails with are filled with joy and life and I enjoy meeting other volunteers with different life experiences. I have made hundreds of friends. Some of the people I have been on trails with have become very good friends.

What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering?
Recognising there is not only a real need, but a real opportunity to volunteer is all you really need. You’ll find that your involvement makes as much a difference to yourself as it makes to Very Special Kids and the families and children it supports.

I would also say that volunteering is a good way to keep the grey matter working and a smile on your face. I don’t know of many other ways to help families and have so much fun at once. If you don’t like fun, be careful because you are going to be exposed to a lot of it.

Volunteering is an integral part of the service delivery and fundraising model of Very Special Kids. We are proud that more than 720 volunteers generously give their time to support families of children with life-threatening conditions.

Find out more about volunteering

Helping Jakob and Dani meet their needs

Very Special Kids supports 42 families in Gippsland. One of those families is four-year-old Jakob Engley and mum Dani McLennan from Traralgon.

Jakob has an undiagnosed genetic condition that affects his respiratory system, making it difficult for him to breathe and resulting in dwarfism, profound deafness and preventing Jakob from being able to talk.

Dani describes Jakob as “curious and cheeky, with a great personality”. He loves eating food, listening to music and swinging on swings and his new assistance dog, Zola. Although unable to talk, Jakob is learning to use Auslan and PECS, Picture Communication Exchange System, to communicate with others and will begin kindergarten next year.

Jakob requires around-the-clock care from Dani to meet all his needs. He attends a number of therapies requiring weekly travel from Traralgon to Melbourne, including occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy. His condition has also required travel overseas for treatment.

Dani says Very Special Kids has provided much-needed emotional and practical support through the Family Support Worker in the Traralgon Office.

“Our Family Support Worker helps by being there for face-to-face contact, offering ideas about events and places to take Jakob and assistance and advice about how to fund Jakob’s treatments,” she says.

Very Special Kids operates an office in Traralgon with a Family Support Worker providing support to families in the Gippsland region including counselling and advocacy, and coordinating local programs and events that provide families with the opportunity to meet each other and share information and experiences.

While Jakob is yet to visit Very Special Kids Hospice, Dani says it’s reassuring to know that hospice is there for respite care.

“If I should need someone to take care of Jakob, there is a specialised place to take him where his care needs will be understood and catered for.”

Very Special Kids supports 42 families in Gippsland, and 900 across Victoria, that are caring for children with life-threatening conditions, by providing 24-hour nursing care at Very Special Kids Hospice and family support services.

It costs $7 million per year to operate Very Special Kids, with all services free-of-charge to families. Please help us continue to support children like Jakob, and their families, by donating to the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal.

The Piggy Bank Appeal will be coming to Gippsland:

Thursday, 3 September 2015, Commonwealth Bank Sale, 10am – 2pm
Thursday, 3 September 2015, Star Hotel Sale, 5pm – 9pm
Friday, 4 September 2015, Commonwealth Bank Traralgon, 11am – 4pm
Friday, 4 September 2015, Morwell Hotel, 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Saturday, 5 September 2015, Inverloch Lotto, 9am – 1pm
Thursday, 17 September 2015, Commonwealth Bank Morwell, 10.30am – 3pm
Thursday, 17 September 2015, Royal Exchange Hotel Traralgon, 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Friday, 18 September 2015, Commonwealth Bank Bairnsdale, 10am – 3pm
Friday, 18 September 2015, Morwell Bowling Club, 5pm – 8pm
Saturday, 19 September 2015, Bunnings Morwell, 9am – 4pm

Meet Alan Hall – Very Special Kids volunteer

For Alan Hall, 76, learning about Very Special Kids was a happy accident. A change of route on his daily walk nine years ago saw him walking past the Very Special Kids Hospice for the first time. Looking for a new volunteer opportunity and curious about the work of Very Special Kids he set about some research.

“I was quickly inspired to help and the next day, I signed up as a volunteer,” says Alan.

Eager to help in any way he can, Alan has spent countless hours volunteering for Very Special Kids over the past nine years and not only during the Piggy Bank Appeal.

He has also volunteered at the Footy Fever Debate, as a Family Support Volunteer, at Sibling Days and at the Altona City Rotary annual charity golf day.

Full of many tales of fun from piggy trails past and looking to create more, Alan is excited about the 2015 Piggy Bank Appeal.

“I’m looking forward to once again being inspired by the generosity of Victorians and telling people about the important work of Very Special Kids,” says Alan.

Alan is keen to volunteer for Very Special Kids for as long as possible.

“Volunteering regenerates me and has made me feel like a better person as a natural consequence of supporting such an inspirational and worthwhile cause,” Alan says.

“It is easy and fun to volunteer for Very Special Kids and I encourage others not to undersell their capacity to volunteer, ” he says.

Find out more about volunteering

Providing a network of support for the Ferguson family

Fourteen-year-old Michelle Ferguson* has hydranencephaly, a rare condition in which most of the cerebral hemispheres are absent and replaced with fluid. This has left Michelle profoundly disabled and her future is uncertain. She requires one-on-one care and assistance 24 hours a day.

Michelle has been in permanent care with Sandra and Graeme Ferguson since she was 10-months-old. Sandra and Graeme also have three adult children and seven grandchildren that love spending time with Michelle.

Sandra says that Very Special Kids Hospice enables them to take much-needed breaks.

“At first I thought we wouldn’t need it and I didn’t want Michelle going anywhere without me. But now I know they look after her beautifully at the hospice,” she says.

The family have also attended Very Special Kids family camps at Lord Somers and local activities that provide them with the opportunity to meet other parents and share information and experiences.

“It’s really good for us to socialise with other parents who are in the same boat. We don’t have to explain anything to anyone,” Sandra says.

A Very Special Kids Family Support Worker in Ballarat provides support to 35 families in the Grampians region including counselling and advocacy, and coordinating local programs and events that provide families the opportunity to meet each other and share information and experiences.

Very Special Kids supports 35 families in the Grampians, and 900 across Victoria, that are caring for children with life-threatening conditions, by providing 24-hour nursing care at Very Special Kids Hospice and family support services.

A Family Support Worker in Ballarat provides support to families in the Grampians region including counselling and advocacy, and coordinating local programs and events that provide families the opportunity to meet each other and share information and experiences.

It costs $7 million per year to operate Very Special Kids, with all services free-of-charge to families. Please help us continue to support children like Michelle, and their families, by donating to the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal.

The Piggy Bank Appeal will be coming to the Grampians:

Thursday, 10 September 2015, Commonwealth Bank Stawell, 10am to 1pm
Thursday, 10 September 2015, Commonwealth Bank Ararat, 1.30pm to 4pm
Thursday, 10 September 2015, Red Lion Hotel Golden Point, 6pm to 8pm
Thursday, 24 September 2015, Commonwealth Bank Daylesford, 10am to 2pm
Saturday, 26 September 2015, Bridge Mall Ballarat, 10am to 3pm
Saturday, 26 September 2015, Blue Bell Hotel, Wendouree 5pm to 8pm

*Name has been changed for privacy