MAURICE Pollard sat in his wheelchair clutching a bundle of bright daffodil blooms last Friday.
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The older man was down from Townsville with his son Neil to see family. He did not hesitate to buy flowers for Daffodil Day on August 28.
“I lost my daughter through cancer, and every time it comes around, that’s when I buy it,” he said with glistening eyes.
Maurice and many others helped to make Inverell’s bit in the annual Australian Cancer Council initiative a success.
“It was really good, and having the kids was just amazing,” local Daffodil Day organiser Louise Barnes said.
“A rough figure would be from about in-between $6000 and $7000. That’s terrific.”
Not every item sold, and Louise said there were a few bears to be returned to the Cancer Council, but unsold daffodils found their way to special destinations.
“Some went to Inv-erell Community Hea-lth in palliative care, some went into the hospital, some went to Macintyre Street aged community, some went to Ashford Community Health and some went to the renal unit at Inverell Hospital,” Louise said.
“So none of it went to waste; they all went to those that really needed them.”
Louise was grateful to the high school students from Macintyre, Inverell and Holy Trinity who brought a different angle to the fundraiser.
“I think just having them out and about, and to see the school community can get involved in charity and having their input,” Louise said.
“I’m sure the school students would be touched by cancer in some way.”
Louise’s mother Margaret Barnes felt the students also added to the day in their smart attire and good manners.
“They were a credit to the school,” Margaret said.
Louise has managed the day for the past few years, and has expressed her passion to aid any person or family on their journey with cancer.
She felt she would take on the day with all the flowers, merchandise and those cuddly bears again next year.
“I don’t think of it as a big effort; I enjoy it, I love it,” she said.
“To me it’s more a team effort, plus I enjoy sharing that day with my team and everyone else.”
Louise sent out heartfelt thanks to her team, the high school students and everybody in the community who contributed to Inverell Daffodil Day.
