After the wonderful people of Echuca gave generously the AYAC support team moved onto Swan Hill where we’ve been stationed for nearly a week.
Everybody hates change but thankfully the mosquitoes that we’d grown so accustomed to in Echuca were back, larger, and somewhat more aggressive in Swan Hill.
Putting aside our suburban frailties (if I see ‘No Service’ on my iPhone one more time my head will explode) we set out to do what we came here for. Fundraise.
For those who are fans of word games, you’ll correctly notice you can’t spell fundraise without FUN! That was the unofficial motto of the support team as we kicked off our efforts at the local kiosk.
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| Claire would never sell her soul, but she'll sell you a sausage |
We set up shop in the main street and before long the delicious aroma of caramelised onion and Ground Beef sausages (now MSG free!) had the Swan Hill locals coming at us like a flock of, well, swans.
Throughout the course of the day we met some interesting people, who were keen to share their personal experiences, as well as find out what Australian Youth Against Cancer is all about. People gave generously, with their dollars and their time, making the first day a stunning success.
Special mention goes to John, who despite being a vegetarian, still donated even though he wasn’t down with the whole meat situation. John is a budding author who penned ‘Gypsy - The Feral Forrest Pig’ a self-published novel that follows the hilarious (mis)adventures of Gypsy and her gang. What better way to teach some of life's most important lessons than through the personification of a bush pig. Look out for Gypsy at all good Pricemarts.
Before the next BBQ the Support Team trimmed itself down, we said goodbye to Claire, Dan and Nick, who all returned to Sydney. It was sad to see them go but with smaller numbers, we were able to coordinate our attacks effectively and ensure that no stone remains unturned, or something equally dramatic.
In reality we never had to worry because the next fundraiser, at the local Safeway, we had the venerable Steve Boyd on board. We all know how impressive Chris Boyd is, no doubt he’s told you himself, but he doesn’t come close to Papa Boyd. The man wears a singlet like his life depends on it, he cooked some kind of Gordon Ramsay tribute dinner for us, with food I can’t even name, and he generally made the Safeway experience more enjoyable.
The Safeway BBQ was a testament to the power of the media. Throughout the week Chris and Ian appeared in The Guardian, Swan Hill’s local paper, as well as being interviewed on Triple J, a nationwide youth radio station. At Safeway many of the Swocals (Swan Hill Locals) approached us, saying they’d read the article, or heard the interview. It was a great way to engage the people of Swan Hill, and sell a few sausages while we were at it.
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| Safeway - Kind of like Woolworths, but safer. |
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| The coverage in The Guardian newspaper. To the left of the picture you also may be interested in 'Magnetic Keyholders,' various designs in store now. |
On the same day, while Cam and I manned the BBQ, Matt hit the streets of Swan Hill, and by streets I of course mean, street, to hand out some posters and shake the bucket.
Before long it was like Banksy had exploded in Swan Hill, there were posters everywhere, and people were starting to take notice. Special mention also goes to Matt for managing to get Boutique Lingerie, a local lingerie store, to donate a sizeable cheque. Whether it was Matt’s clear penchant for lingerie or he simply oozed charisma, he did something right in there. Congrats.
Poor weather in Swan Hill meant the support team had some time off. We mostly read quietly and discussed regional politics. Oh I’m sorry did I mention that we road the local waterslide!!!. There was ‘fear’ in the eyes of young children, but I saw it more as a quiet jealousy, as we slid time and time again, until we’d learnt the corners intimately. It was fun.
Given that we’d temporarily digressed to six year olds we visited Swan Hills primary (read - only) tourist attraction, the Pioneer settlement. It seems that the way to convince people you’re in the olden days is call everything Ye Olde. So we went from the Ye Olde Churche, to the Ye Olde Gaol, and finally to Ye olde Photo Shoppe. Below is some of the terrifying evidence of our time there. For camera enthusiasts I believe the photographer was using a Canon Digital Rebel SLR, the digital camera of choice for pioneer settlers back in 1880.
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| Nothing to say. How about those drapes? |
After dusting our hands of this watersliding, cross dressing business, it was back to the task at hand. Our final BBQ in Swan Hill was at the local Mitre 10. It was an absolute scorcher, based on my mild case of heat stroke I’m going to guess it was roughly 60 degrees, out of control.
Throughout the week we’d been applying sun cream and aeroguard liberally, each of them working in tandem to protect our bodies from the elements. Together they’d formed a kind of super paste that meant you could basically take a family of mosquitoes to the sun, and you wouldn’t get bitten or burnt. I plan to market this idea when I get back, so don’t tell anyone, cheers.
Anyway we were all wearing our paste in the intense heat, but the Mitre 10 shoppers were having none of it. “This isn’t hot!” said one passer by. “You think this is hot, wait till it gets a bit hotter, then it is definitely hot” said another. We pushed through the pain barrier, and in doing so, impressed the shoppers, who rewarded us by approaching our marquee and having a chat.
The staff at Mitre 10 Swan Hill deserve a special mention, they helped us all day, directing customers outside to our marquee, exclusively buying lunch from the AYAC BBQ, and at the end of the day we were given another cheque, by the manager of Mitre 10.
During the day we met a young truck driver who had been diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was twenty four. He was humble and quiet in a country sort of way, but after we got him talking he discussed his experience, and what he said was eerily similar to what AYAC is about. Young adults seeking each other out to create a support network. It was the kind of validation that makes it worthwhile, especially when you’re slowly roasting in the Swan Hill heat.
As I write this we are en route to Robinvale for a BBQ at IGA, and to give Chris and Ian some much needed supplies. The boys have been on the river for five days and it’ll be interesting to see how they’re travelling. Last night the area was hit by an electrical storm, and it was rough in the tent, so much respect goes to the boys for camping riverside, it would be about as fun as sledge hammer to the face. They’re back on the river for another few days, then they’ll join up with the support team in Mildura.
The next step in this journey is Mildura, where the team will continue to dedicate their time and effort to raising awareness and money for Australian Youth Against Cancer. Swan Hill has been an eye opening experience, a credit to the generosity of regional Australia and proof that a life changing story can transcend states, cities and even countries. (Some local girls thought we were from Sweden. I personally blame Cameron’s hair and blase approach to hygiene).
Finally, thankyou to Heath and the team at Big 4 Holiday Park Swan Hill (03 5032 4372 www.big4.com.au) for providing us with accommodation during our time here, top notch place to rest our bones after a days work and play some overly competitive games of table tennis.
Always a pleasure, stay tuned for Chris’s next installment.
Thomas Mitchell
