Two students studying in Port Macquarie have gone old school and are holding a bake sale to raise money for farmers in Coonamble struggling in drought.
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Friends Pru Swansborough and Rachel Nolan are gathering community support to raise funds for the upcoming Coonamble Raindance Ball.
“I came from Coonamble to study in Port Macquarie a few years ago and wanted to put a personal face on the struggles with the drought,” Pru said.
“There are so many drought fund raisers currently happening but in many cases you might not know who the farmers are who need the help.
“Being from out west I know how much my community is struggling and so I wanted to see if I could do something here for back home.”
Teaming up with her friend Rachel the idea of an old school bake sale at the TAFE NSW campus and CSU campus in Port Macquarie sprung up and it has just grown.
“We both met studying social work in Port Macquarie and thought it would be great if we could help Pru’s community doing something small here,” Rachel said.
“We thought a bake sale would be fun and who doesn’t like cake? From there the idea of a raffle evolved and we walked the streets of Port Macquarie to see if local businesses would support our raffle and they have been incredible.
“We went really old school. We printed a map of NSW and circled Port Macquarie and Coonamble and after going and talking to people they couldn’t really say no to us after that.”
The girls said they have been overwhelmed with the generosity from the community and invite everyone to come and buy a cake at either of the campuses.
On September 18 they will be at the TAFE NSW campus from 9.30-11.30am and on September 19 at CSU from 12.30-2.30pm.
“All our cakes will be homemade we have friends, and friends of friends baking yummy goodies for us to sell and all the money we raise will go to the Coonamble Raindance Ball on October 6.”
The rain dance itself started as a silly jive that went viral as locals videoed each other dancing in the dry fields hoping for rain.
The rain dance is now the namesake of a sold-out community ball aimed at boosting morale and injecting money into the town, and with over 900 tickets sold is set to be a cracking night of fun.
“The rain dance itself was something the locals (including me) did as a way of boosting spirits and it has just become this whole thing,” Pru said.
“Now with the ball going to boost spirits we just hope we can help that little bit and do our part to aid in the drought efforts.
“So please come and buy a raffle ticket and a cake from us and support our farmers.”
