Sisters Crystal and Jasmine Singh with their faces painted at the annual Cobram Ritchies IGA fair.
Photo by
Abby Green
Ritchies’ 12th annual fun fair had it all, from live music, bouncy castles, fairy floss and a sausage sizzle to the Grinch and Chase from Paw Patrol.
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Families flocked to the Ritchies IGA car park on Saturday, November 15 to support the Cobram community.
There were plenty of fun games and activities for the kids, including chucklin’ chickens, bouncy castles, temporary tattoos and face painting.
Cory King, 4, playing chucklin' chickens at the 12th annual Ritchies IGA fair.
Photo by
Abby Green
Ritchies IGA manager Mandy Hawke said the weather was awesome, and it was another great day.
“It's just a fun family environment and a day for people to get out, spend time with the guys from the CFA, SES and all the other local community groups,” she said.
Ms Hawke said all the money raised from the raffle sales and barbecue went back to the CFA and SES, and all the funds raised by Cobram Primary School’s drink sales were donated to Dutch Thunder Wildlife Rescue.
Ritchies IGA manager Mandy Hawke and duty managers Ebony Gardner and Maria Papalia with the Grinch.
Photo by
Abby Green
Kylee Donkers owns Dutch Thunder with her husband, James, and said it was great to see such a good turnout.
“The IGA are huge supporters of us, we actually have a regular donation bin in the foyer of the IGA, so people can donate when they're doing their shopping,” Mrs Donkers said.
The Dutch Thunder Wildlife stall had various interactive displays for children to engage with, including a stick insect where kids had to work out what all the parts were.
“Our newest display is our bird display and being springtime it is a good time to bring it out, where they have to match the name of the local species to the picture to the feathers and the kids have had an absolute ball doing it today,” she said.
Beside the display you could also find Big Bertha the kangaroo, a large, life-size plush kangaroo who received many pats from the children and adults alike.
Dutch Thunder Wildlife rescue volunteer Shani Hope and owner Kylee Donkers with Big Bertha the kangaroo.
Photo by
Abby Green
Bluebird Cobram Kindergarten ran the fairy floss stall, with 100 per cent of their proceeds donated to Dutch Thunder.
SES deputy unit controller Kate Goldsmith said she and her colleagues were excited to be there.
“I’ve been really busy. I've been over at the barbecue handing out some food, I've been here doing some community engagement, we've been talking to people about flash flooding and storm damage,” Mrs Goldsmith said.
“So that's probably the highlight, engaging with the community, from kids right through to adults.”
SES deputy unit controller community engagement and resilience Kate Goldsmith with deputy unit controller of operations Emma Bugler and deputy unit controller of assets and facilities Jai Draper.
Photo by
Abby Green
Cobram CFA community safety co-ordinator Zoe Ryder said the highlight of the day for her was being able to give the community the right information.
“We've got our ‘get fire ready’ bags, which is just getting ready for fire season ... we've also got plenty of other information about home fire safety,” she said.
“I think engaging with the kids and just asking them questions and seeing what they know, and giving them information, as well as bringing the adults in, has been great.”
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