By Andrew Paloczi

INCLEMENT weather on Saturday forced a reshuffle at Woorayl Lodge. The decision was taken at 7am to move its Fete indoors, and that call came up trumps despite the stress of extensive reorganisation in limited time.

“I’m pleasantly surprised,” Woorayl Lodge Auxiliary president Kaye Warren said of the terrific turnout, sales and the fun everyone had.

She admitted panicking when the joint decision was made to shift the event inside, not knowing how it would go but expects earnings to compare well with those of recent years.

“We sold out of all our perishable goods, all the cooking, jams and relish.”

Leongatha Lions Club’s barbecue was such a hit, the snags were all snapped up.

While the rain prompted the Lions not to cook hot chips, the club gave its generous planned donation anyway, with Kaye expressing her gratitude.

Leongatha’s Aldi, Woolworths, IGA and Saputo contributed prizes as did Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath and pre-selected Monash candidate Mary Aldred, Kaye delighted with the community support the fete receives every year.

Feedback was excellent.

“The residents had an absolute ball,” Kaye said, adding that one of them, Faye Lyons, provided a highlight when invited onto the dance floor to partner with a member of Gatha Rock, thrilling the group’s audience and Faye.

The dance display, usually held outside on a temporary floor, was shifted to the dining room to avoid having to perform on carpet.

Saturday morning’s reshuffle included bringing the stalls into the Nelson Lounge, which had been set up for Devonshire Tea.

That was instead served in the Fairbank Lounge, requiring a quick transfer of furniture and moving some residents. 

“There was a lot of organisation that went on between 7 and 8 o’clock; it was all hands on deck and the staff who came in were unbelievable,” Kaye said of what proved a terrific team effort.

All money raised will go to initiatives that benefit Woorayl Lodge residents.