Boolarra - A Community with a Heart

Boolarra is renowned as a community that looks after its own.

We work together to achieve great results, and we help each other out when its needed.

The Boolarra Post Office has been a cornerstone of the community for over 100 hundred years, and we have been very fortunate to have had a series of owner/managers who have been prepared to do their bit, and a bit more, for the community. They have been very helpful to the Boolarra Community Development Group, as well as to many other community groups and individuals.

Now is the community’s opportunity to demonstrate our appreciation.

Shannon has a serious heart condition that requires a heart transplant. When a heart becomes available, Shannon and his family will need to relocate to Melbourne for three months. While the major costs of the operation are covered, he will need to pay for his own accommodation,  and he is out of pocket around $2,000 p/m for prescribed medication.

We initially sought to raise $10,000 to assist Shannon. This was a notional amount-something that was both worthwhile, and potentially achievable, but no where near what Shannon and his family need.

We have been overwhelmed by the response we have had from the community, and would like to thank everyone who has been so generous with their donations.

Currently we have over $11,000 in GoFundMe, and we also have a further $2,000 held in a special account by the Boolarra Community Development Group for Shannon.

As well as general donations we have also run the weekly meat tray raffle at the Boolarra Community Hotel for four weeks, where Sue, Denise and myself (Colin) with Graeme Colbert's assistance raised over $1,000.

Last Sunday a number of Boolarra bands contributed their time for a fundraiser at the Hotel, and over $1,600 was raised.

We still have a couple of other fundraisers to come, with a classical music recital at the Boolarra Hall on a Sunday afternoon in June and we are also looking at holding a trivia night later in the year.