A SECOND fashion parade and afternoon tea for Operation Operating Room (OOR) is on the calendar for October 24 with tickets already on sale.
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Organiser Vicki Berger said last year’s inaugural fundraising event was so successful, they had to do it again.
“It was the first time for this last year, and if we got 80 people we were quite happy with that, but I think it was about 140 people turned up,” she said.
“I think the most important, that people know everything that is purchased (by OOR) for here, stays here.”
The day promises delights like lucky door prizes, entertainment, a presentation by Macintyre Lions Youth of the Year Hannah Worsley, guest speakers and the ever-popular fashion parade.
Vicki said the parade for real women in all shapes, sizes and ages does more than show off what’s new on the catwalk.
It builds confidence.
She just brought nearly a tear to everyone’s eye.
- Vicki Berger
Last year Vicki was desperate for models, and sent out a plea.
A woman volunteered to be a size 16 model, but admitted she had a social anxiety.
“She came on the Saturday morning and tried the clothes on, and she’d never done anything like this before,” Vicki said.
“She was fine trying the clothes on here, but when we got down there, she was so nervous and she came up to me at the end and said, ‘Vicki, I had so much fun, please, please ask me to do it again.’”
Inverell High School student Emi Campbell will take to the catwalk again after past parades modelling for Millers and Best and Less.
Emi has Down Syndrome, but Vicki said the teen did not seem defined by her disability.
“She just brought nearly a tear to everyone’s eye, to think that this young girl, and Emi’s known in all the community, but she just strutted herself,” Vicki said.
“And she didn’t care what people thought of her, or how she looked, she just strutted, and every time she went out, she just loved it.”
Local favourite Peter Caddey will return to emcee the event and agreed the local focus of OOR was critical, and was happy to take part.
“I’ve been blessed to be given some skills to use and I enjoy using them, so if I can do something that can help the community, I’m more than happy to be able to,” he said.
A first this year is a dinner following the event.
“At 6.30, for a cost of $25 with your fashion parade ticket, or $30 without a ticket, is a two-course meal at the Royal Hotel,” Vicki said.
Once the parade ticket is in hand, dinner tickets must be purchased at the Royal Hotel.
The OOR Fashion Parade and afternoon tea fundraiser is on Saturday, October 24 with a 1pm start at the Royal Hotel.
Tickets are $10, available at Millers on Byron and must be purchased by October 21.
The first 50 tickets sold will put secure a seat in the reserved section.