Very Special Kids Day 2019
VERY SPECIAL KIDS DAY 2019
With the Victorian Open in full swing and no Pennant fixtures, Pakenham Bowls Club took the opportunity last Saturday to conduct its annual fund raiser in support of its favourite charity, Very Special Kids (VSK). Given the horrific weather we’ve experienced over most weekends so far this season, they were blessed, for a change, with a day which although cool, remained fine and at times even sunny.
Established in 1985, VSK helps care for children with life threatening conditions by providing a hospice and a range of family support services to sick children and their families. The assistance provided includes counselling and other professional services, sibling support and importantly, the provision of respite care and is available along the entire journey from diagnosis through to recovery or (sadly) bereavement. The charity currently assists over 1000 Victorian families annually, including several in the Pakenham area.
Although VSK is now partially Government funded, it relies heavily on donations and other fund raising activities to provide approximately three quarters of the more than $8 million it requires annually to maintain its services. A recent increase in government funding was quickly swallowed up as the service expanded to include more families who previously would not have received assistance. The VSK Day held at Pakenham Bowls Club is intended to be a fun social tournament which helps in a small way to raise funds for this very important and valuable service.
Participants played a continuous game of 24 ends, pausing after each eight ends to change opponents and with one powerplay in each of the three sets of eight. This innovative format, introduced to add interest to the day and to save time, did not cause as much confusion as expected and most coped admirably, although there were a few problems with the scoring.
For the first time, (this is the fourth year that the club has supported VSK) in the interests of making the day a really casual affair, it was decided that rather than requiring full uniform, participants could turn out in “mufti.” For some reason Brian Norton interpreted this to mean, “Come dressed as a rabbit,” so he wore his bunny suit – that got quite a few laughs as did his antics throughout the day. Super Man also turned up to lend his strength to the occasion but unfortunately, at times, was seen competing with the bunny for attention.
Participants were asked to bring a “plate to share” with the result that there was enough food at lunch and afternoon tea to feed a small army – a number of the single men in particular enjoyed a month’s worth of home made cakes, scones or biscuits in one sitting. Some found the action of bending over to deliver the bowl strangely difficult or uncomfortable after lunch.
As was the case last year, there were no monetary prizes awarded. In any case, winners for the first two years had generously donated their prize money back to the cause. However a perpetual trophy was created on which the winners’ names are engraved. The members of the team who will proudly see their names added for the 2019 year are: Lois Mashado, Peter Bott and Sam Granieri.
This year the club was proud to raise just over $2,500 for VSK from a combination of donations, entry fees for the day, proceeds from the raffle, fines (e.g. wrong bias) and $264 from the big pink pig which sits on the bar. A special vote of thanks is due to Jim William’s mother-in-law, Gladys Gara who despite having no other involvement with the club feels a tug at the heart strings and makes a substantial donation each year – well done and much appreciated by VSK! Well done also to those members who made extra donations, including those who could not attend on the day.
Des Leigh (Grizzly)
