More than just a sheep farmer
October 23, 2026
Rich de Fégely introduces himself as a “sheep farmer from Western Victoria”. Sheep farming clearly keeps him busy. He’s currently running 10,000 head, hoping that number will soon grow to 15,000. But there is much more to the 41-year-old husband and father of two young boys. A desire to improve himself has resulted a fundraising project that is sending children from his region to attend Queenscliff’s Cottage by the Sea programs every year.
Cottage by the Sea is a children’s charity that uses adventure-based activities to provide new opportunities for children, expand their life experiences and give them confidence and aspiration for their future.
Across its programs, up to 2000 children aged 7-18 attend three to five-day camps every year. The short-stay experiences feature activities unique to the seaside location. They are designed to provide children with opportunities to step outside their comfort zone and try new things, which helps them to learn and grow when they return to their schools and communities.
Four projects completed by Deakin University’s Strategic Research Centre have revealed multiple layers of impact, some life-changing, for children and their families.
Rich de Fégely learnt about Cottage by the Sea when his grandmother moved to Point Lonsdale and volunteered to sell Christmas cards for the charity.
More recently his uncle, Phil de Fégely, is an Ambassador and Co-Chair of The Rippers, a collaboration of business and social supporters who raise funds for the children’s programs.
Rich’s fundraising efforts evolved from a simple idea and his desire for some self-improvement.
“I’d spent a lot of time developing skills for my work but had never really developed my community and leadership skills. I had experience as a community volunteer and some leadership roles but wanted to develop more. I was looking for a course but couldn’t find the right one.
“Around the same time I told Phil I’d had an idea to raise money for local kids to go to Cottage by the Sea. He later confirmed that Ararat North Primary School children were booked in for a Take a Break camp, so I started to think about sourcing local funds to make sure our kids get down there every year,” Rich said.
“I also thought that if did this I’d be dealing with so many different people it would help me develop my own skills. When you try and attempt something that hasn’t been done before there are a lot of false starts. I had to quickly get used to people saying no and new ideas not working.”
Around the same time I told Phil I’d had an idea to raise money for local kids to go to Cottage by the Sea. He later confirmed that Ararat North Primary School children were booked in for a Take a Break camp, so I started to think about sourcing local funds to make sure our kids get down there every year,
– Rich de Fégely
Rich met with Cottage by the Sea CEO Adam Wake and Programs Manager Belinda Saya and more clearly understood both the outcomes and the need.
“Then the more you see the outcomes (Cottage is achieving), the more you get sucked in. My own skills have got better with time and it’s not that hard for me to keep going.”
Rich focussed on the Take a Break program, for primary school-age children. He put his own money in to start the fund while he went about talking to others in his community about their opportunity to impact local children in new and innovative ways.
He met with the Mayor and CEO of Ararat Rural City Council who were supportive but understandably cautious about raising money that would go out of town, when many local organisations had equal need for funding.
Rich said he understood the council couldn’t initially commit financially, but was buoyed by their advice and some administrative support.
The Ararat Take a Break Fund was established, with Rich’s own money, while he consistently talked about the project everywhere he went.
A reliable supporter and sounding board was neighbour and friend Melissa Hope, who works at Ararat Primary School and whose mother volunteers at Cottage by the Sea.
“Melissa was one of the first people that I told about my idea and she was on board straight away,” Rich said. “She understood the impact of the program. I never had to sell the concept.”
He said Melissa had been there “every step of the way, having regular catch ups at my kitchen bench to discuss how we can pull this off or listen to me complain about my frustrations and add valuable advice about education settings. At her own 50th birthday party she told her guests 'no presents, just make a donation to the Ararat Take a Break fund'.
“Our goal was to offer the Take a Break program to every eligible Year 5 student in the Ararat Rural City Council catchment every year,” Rich said. “That’s 10 primary schools with about 120 Year 5 students.”
Our goal was to offer the Take a Break program to every eligible Year 5 student in the Ararat Rural City Council catchment every year,” Rich said. “That’s 10 primary schools with about 120 Year 5 students.”
– Rich de Fégely
Since 2024, the Ararat Take a Break Fund has enabled 200 children from the region to experience an adventure-filled break.
For some of the children it’s their first experience of the ocean. For some it’s their first time staying away from home without their family. For many it’s life-changing.
“I knew that I needed to bring people along for the journey and give them a chance to buy in to the idea before they’d commit to helping,” Rich said.
“I learnt there’s a rule of three. The first contact gets different reactions, mostly commonly ‘why would I support it?’ The second time they hear about it they start to take notice and then the third time they really pick it up and run with it.”
Rich said it was easier to get his story across when children from Ararat North Primary School returned from their first Take a Break camp. Their excitement and feedback built momentum.
“Ten per cent of them had never been to the beach before,” Rich said. “People at home had no idea about this.”
54 students from three Ararat primary schools recently enjoyed Cottage by the Sea’s Take a Break program, supported through the Ararat Take a Break Fund.
Ten per cent of them had never been to the beach before,” Rich said. “People at home had no idea about this.” ”
– Rich de Fégely.
As Rich chipped away in his local community he enjoyed support of the Ararat Lions Club, which supported his grant applications and “tipped in” funds in the first year. The Handbury Foundation also donated.
Ararat Rural City Council later voted to allocate $10,000 annually into the fund. Additional funds have been received from the Stawell Gold Mine, which enabled Stawell children to also participate. Discussions are ongoing with Northern Grampians Shire Council.
Another key to Rich’s success is the support of local media – two newspapers and ACE Radio – who played a crucial role in this year’s major fundraising event, Jailbreak, which raised more than $31,000.
The Jailbreak event saw local identities volunteer to be ‘imprisoned’ in the town’s J Ward - Ararat's Old Gaol and Lunatic Asylum. 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.
Ararat locals 'Jail break' for charity. Photo: Paul Carracher.
Rich said another breakthrough was the support of Ararat Primary School Principal Natalie Dowsett, who took on the crucial role of co-ordinating communication with the schools and “halved my workload”.
He’s excited that teachers and principals have started to talk about a future with the Cottage in it. The opportunity to have children attend is offered to all schools in the region.
He is proud of the progress and establishment of the Ararat Take a Break Fund. He knows there will always be some resistance to raising money to send children out of town. But the proof of impact leaves him in no doubt he’s doing the right thing.