Mayflower ready for annual fete

KATINA CURTIS

MAYFLOWER’S Marcia Hall guarantees everyone will find a bargain at the retirement village’s fete this weekend.

“There is a bargain for everybody – and if you can’t find a bargain, come and find me and I’ll find you one,” the diversional therapy co-ordinator said.

The annual fete is Mayflower Village’s major fundraiser and Ms Hall said the residents put a lot of effort in to make it a fantastic day.

This included making show bags and signs for stalls, cooking up cakes, jams and chutneys and sorting out all the trash and treasure.

“We have an absolutely huge and the best trash and treasure sale you’ve ever seen and the men’s restoration group spent hours sorting through the trash and treasure and fixing, polishing, repairing and painting,” Ms Hall said.

Residents have also been selling raffle tickets in Gerringong and Kiama and the gardening groups have been busy potting plants for sale.

Ms Hall said the plant stall was set to expand in future years, with the $22,500 raised at last year’s fete going towards building a greenhouse.

“All of the money raised stays at Mayflower to be spent to enhance the residents’ lives,” she said.

She gave much of the credit for the fete’s successes to the volunteers who helped out, including Gerringong service clubs, Mayflower staff, self-care residents and residents’ families.

Other attractions on the day will include a free jumping castle for children, a petting zoo, show bags, handmade craft and a food alley with fairy floss, popcorn, a sausage sizzle, pancakes, drinks and a Devonshire morning tea.

There will also be a lucky number draw and a chocolate wheel with prizes ranging from a case of wine and trays of meat to a bicycle.

“It a lovely concept, the fete, because it’s something so nice to look forward to,” Ms Hall said.

“It’s out there in the community that it’s a nice fete to come to and I think the community have always supported us and we’re very grateful for that.”

Mayflower’s fete is on Saturday (March 29) between 9.30am and 3pm in the retirement village’s grounds on Belinda St, Gerringong.