Powering on despite weather
On a weekend when the forecast was showers for Saturday and heavy rain on Sunday, there were suggestions the Seymour Relay for Life could be called off.
But despite the gloomy forecast, the event powered on.
The predicted showers on Saturday did not eventuate and the event proceeded as planned around the oval.
A warm-up to the event was provided by Rhonda Fry and her Zumba group.
After an introduction, the national anthem was sung by Maddy Lezon, followed by a prayer from Padre Don Kaus, then Steph Ryan MP, Member for Euroa, cut the ribbon before the traditional first lap by the survivors and carers headed off.
Following the opening lap, members of the 12 teams began the relay which ran through until 10 am on Sunday morning.
To break the monotony they were entertained throughout the evening by the Mitchell Shire Concert Band, Maddy Lezon, Andrew Allen, and Hair of the Dog, while Seymour FM 103.9 radio broadcast the event almost continuously from 5 pm.
One of the first duties the presenters had was to describe the hair cut and head shave of Temisha Griffiths and Sebastian Kanters as part of fundraising by ‘Vickys Highlanders and Quiggys Warriors’.
The cut hair has been donated for the manufacturing of wigs for cancer treatment patients.
The moving candlelight ceremony conducted by Mr Don Kaus saw the candle for the past lit by members of the Quigg family, who lost Justin Quigg recently, and the candle for the present by Hank Kreemers standing in for Keith Murphy, who ironically was not able to be present as he was suffering from the effects of his cancer treatment only a couple of days earlier.
The final candle representing the future was lit by Seymour College captains Lachy Waite and Georgia Baker.
Piper Michelle Mussett then led the walkers on a lap of the oval. One participant, new to the event summed it up when he said it brought a lump to his throat.
Shane Lynch brought the evening’s entertainment to a close with some swinging music which provoked energetic dancing from younger participants.
The weather gods, who were sympathetic during Saturday afternoon and evening, eventually took their toll with a large downpour about 5 am on Sunday, forcing the walkers off the oval and on to the bitumen road around the oval.
By 10 am, the cold and wet walkers trudged into the football clubs rooms for the closing ceremony.
They were warmed by the news that, even with a small number of teams and fewer walkers this year, Seymour Relay for Life had raised $41 459 — with possibly more to be banked over the next four weeks.
A bigger cheer was raised with the announcement that the leading fundraising team, Vickys Highlanders and Quiggys Warriors had banked $15 211.65 of that figure.
In the other awards, the Best Baton and Best hope sign awards went to ‘Avenel Amblers’; the Passport Challenge went to ‘Young at Heart’; while ‘Vicky’s Highlanders and Quiggys Warriors’ won the ‘Spirit of the Relay’.
Owing to the inclement weather, the traditional ‘Circle of Hope’ did not take place but with everyone crammed into the club rooms it was more like a Huddle of Hope.
The event was supported by sponsorship from local businesses, while the beautiful handmade quilt raffle was won by Mr Murphy. The raffle raised $490.
Chairman Ted Gray announced he was standing down from the role, and made a strong plea for members of the teams and their friends to appoint a new chairman and some willing committee members.