Gloucester CWA hold successful Santa’s Christmas Cave fundraiser

THE Gloucester branch of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) hosted a successful Santa’s Christmas Cave fundraiser on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 November.

The idea came from CWA member Sandy Tebbet after she spent Christmas 2023 in New York City.

Sandy was inspired by the markets in New York and told News Of The Area she saw “a great opportunity to involve the whole Gloucester community” while raising funds for the CWA.

“This is the second year Santa’s Christmas Cave has been open for business and thanks to the support it received it is set to be an annual event,” she said.

“People came from as far away as Port Macquarie, Sydney, Newcastle, Krambach, Stroud and the Central Coast.”

CWA branch members were busy throughout the year making unique items for sale at the event.

The children who attended were well catered for and enjoyed a variety of craft activities.

Thomas McKinlay won the children’s colouring competition.

Debbie Sanderson from Port Macquarie won first prize in the raffle, a set of Mr and Mrs Claus models.

“The prize was donated by Melissa and Sandy from Forever Christmas at Mayfield,” Kelly Boyer said.

“I asked for a donation, but I wasn’t expecting anything so special.”

Second prize, a beautiful patchwork game of ‘Snakes and Ladders’ created by Sandy Tebbet, was won by Shayne Goode.

CWA member Margery Phair was kept busy filling out tickets.

“The raffle tickets sold like hot cakes and people were very generous in purchasing the tickets,” she said.

Gloucester CWA members are also selling raffle tickets for their Christmas Hampers which are on display in the window of Home Caring in Church Street.

Tickets will be on sale between 9am and midday on Saturday 6 December or they can be purchased from Home Caring.

The raffle, with six hampers to be won, will be drawn on Tuesday 9 December.

By Marilyn SANDERSON