Gerald Tory, the CFMEU FFPD Delegate from Big River Timbers in Grafton New South Wales has been raising funds to provide assistance to children with cancer. Below, in his own words, he tells the story.
In July 2007, a Union member, Mick Christian came to work at Big River Timbers in Grafton on the New South Wales North Coast and told CFMEU FFPD delegate, Gerald Tory about what they were trying to do at Wooli for the Cancer Kids.
They were trying to get local businesses to donate food stuffs so they could feed a group of kids that were suffering from cancer and bring them to Wooli for the weekend. The children were from various areas of the North Coast.
I went home and had discussions with my wife and we decided to make up a shopping list and we went and bought things from the list we were given. The goods came to about $125.00 and that was the donation from Diane and myself.
After a long discussion with Diane we decided that we would set out and try raising money for the kids so they could have a good time the following year.
We decided to make a trailer and donate it and then raffle it and the money would go towards feeding them and their families for the weekend. We went to Wooli with the trailer and handed it over to the Wooli Bowling Club Secretary and then put the challenge out to the local businesses through the local Newspaper to support the cause. The only organisation that came and said they would help was the Clarence Valley Club.
They donated their time and supplied bacon and eggs and sausages and supplied fruit juices.
The raffle for that trailer raised $2900.00
Gerald Never Misses an Opportunity
"I went around trying to get things donated for the kids. I was on the plane from Sydney to Brisbane and I had a fellow sitting beside me and we struck up a conversation during the flight. He asked me what I was going to do this weekend.
"I told him that I had to finish a trailer off that I was making to raise funds for the Cancer Kids so we could raffle it off and then bring them to Wooli for a weekend.
"He then said if he could help just drop him a line. I then asked him what he did he said he owned a Chocolate Factory (Sweet William Chocolates).
"When the time got close I sent him an email asking for assistance and he sent a reply back saying his company would donate chocolates to the value of $500.00 for the kids."
Michael O'Connor, National Secretary of the CFMEU Forestry and Furnishing Products Division organised the donation of caps and drink bottles for the kids.
"We have another weekend planned this weekend 29th and the 20th of August. I made a pledge that my wife and I would make and donate one trailer per year.
"We have a new trailer ready for the raffle. We have been selling tickets for the past few months and have raised a large amount for the kids."
The draw will take place on Saturday night 28th at Wooli Bowling Club.
On Sunday August 30th, Diane and I handed over another new trailer for next year's raffle.
Click on the right hand side of the page to see the photos.
Donations received this year
This year the Union has donated hats for the kids with the both the Union logo and the Wooli Cancer Kids logo on them.
I approached the local fishing trawler operators of which we have 2 nephews who own trawlers and they gave us 20kg of king prawns free of charge. Other donations are;a box of fruit from a local orchard, a box of bananas, Sweet William Chocolates have donated chocolates again.A local charter boat operator Stan Young has donated his time and 2 charter boats for two days.
Mick Christian who operates the other charter boat for Stan has donated his time for the 2 days for the kids (Stan & Mick have been involved with this before we decided to get involved).
Bluey Menon, the North Coast CFMEU Organiser was there last year and he handed out the caps on behalf of the CFMEU.
Bluey is coming again this year to help out.
Over the past 2 years Michael O'Connor, Bluey Menon and Yvonne O'Neill have been very supportive of what we have been doing.
I would like more people in the Union and the Union to get involved in worthwhile events like these.
If anyone wants to help or donate anything they can get in contact with Gerald on
02 6647 7321 or 0418 477 329 or email http://www.cfmeuffpd.org.au/members/topics/gtory@bigpond.net.au
