Tatura’s volunteers mean ‘everything’ to International Dairy Week

It is always a major fundraiser for local clubs and organisations that are involved, specifically the Tatura Football Netball Club and Tatura Rotary Club.

Joint co-ordinator of volunteers and former Bulldogs president John Maher said about 200 volunteers were involved.

“They cook breakfast, prepare food, including hot chips and takeaway food,” he said.

“Tatura Football Netball Club isn’t just a football club. We’re a part of and work with the community.

“Many of the volunteers aren’t from the club, or Tatura, it’s everyone from the district.”

Mr Maher said committee meetings between the club and the dairy week representatives started as early as October the previous year.

Former Tatura Rotary Club president Tom Perry echoed Mr Maher’s comments about the club’s connection to the community.

“Most important is the community people, and understanding it’s a community club,” Mr Perry said.

Mr Perry said the Rotary club mostly looked after the bins and cleaned the cow shed.

“Every morning 10 volunteers from the Rotary club will come in and pick up the bins and put out new ones. There’s about 200 bins all up,” he said.

George Ferguson and Paul Kerrins are both Tatura locals volunteering at dairy week.

Mr Ferguson said all the volunteers were participating “for the community”.

“It showcases our leading industry and our facilities. We have a history in dairy in Tatura for over 100 years,” Mr Kerrins said.

Their work does not go unnoticed.

Event co-ordinator Stacy Leppert said without the volunteers there would be no dairy week.

“They mean everything to us,” she said.

“They know everyone within the community. They know the grounds inside and out. They are so important.”