A fun new way to fundraise 

A fun new way of fundraising to support children from Ararat and Stawell to attend a Take a Break camp program recently raised $30,000 in its first year. 

Organised by dedicated Cottage by the Sea supporter Richard de Fegely, the Jailbreak event saw local identities volunteer to be ‘imprisoned’ in the town’s J Ward - Ararat's Old Gaol and Lunatic Asylum. 

JAIL BREAK FOR CHARITY: Stawell Warriors president Shane Field is among volunteers committing themselves to a short stint at Ararat’sJ Ward on Saturday – his self-confessed crime ‘for playing football at such an old age’. Volunteers will be locked in cells until they reach individual fundraising targets for youth charity Cottage by the Sea. . Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

They were supported by local businesses, schools, sporting groups and individuals who raised money to release them, with all proceeds going towards the Ararat and Stawell children’s Cottage by the Sea experience. 

Organiser Richard de Fegely told The Weekly Advertiser he was overwhelmed with the community support for the inaugural event, which also included live radio broadcasts by 3WM and MIXX FM. 

Ararat Rural City and Northern Grampians municipalities have each established funds to enable Grade 5 children from their region to attend a five-day Take a Break program every year.  

Richard said the successful Jailbreak event will help build those funds to make sure children have opportunities in future years.  

“It was fantastic to see the community come together and get behind the cause,” he said. “There’s a lot of discussion happening already about next year and we’re really going to make a big effort to make it even bigger and better.”