Photo: (from left) Robert Chaffe, Uniting Church; Maurie Pawsey, Friends of Kellock Fundraising Committee; Jocelyn Coates, Uniting Church; Gillian Stewart, Uniting Church, Donna Walsh CEO, Kellock Lodge

On Thursday last (Jan. 17), the Kellock Lodge Fundraising Committee received a heart warming and inspirational visit from a delegation of the Alexandra Uniting Church. This congregation, like others in the town, is struggling, without the means to have a regular Minister.

The delegation of Robert Chaffe, Gillian Stewart and Jocelyn Coates, presented a cheque for $20,000. They explained that, after much soul searching, they were simply setting an example to the rest of the community and hoping the community would follow their example of going that little bit further, to help an important community service survive.

The donation by the Uniting Church of $20,000 has taken the Appeal to a
wonderful total of $354,000. While there has been some 75 individual donors, there are many people who say they are still to contribute. The above figure includes some $70,000 in promised pledges over the next two years.

The Appeal will continue into 2020, with events planned for 2019 and 2020.
Whilst a target of $500,000 is set, obviously Kellock would be better off with more capital to replace the large payment, it is contracted to pay the Diocese, to buy Kellock back as a community owned asset . So the plea is to ask this great community to keep contributing.

As indicated in earlier releases, you can contribute directly to Kellock Lodge or if you have a leaflet from the November mail out, this will give you more details. These leaflets are available from Kellock Lodge or Convenor Maurice Pawsey on 5772 2157.

Donations are tax deductible, can be made as a bequest or a donation to name a Wwing of Kellock, or a dining room or one of several Courtyards.

There will shortly be more detailed announcements about the Gala Ball in May, the involvement in the Open Gardens Weekend and probably one or more wood auctions, and possibly a raffle for quilts.

Maurie Pawsey