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Friday, August 22, 2025
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Pedestrian safety upgrades in CBD
A CUT ABOVE Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre technical team leader Ben Fletcher was left with his trademark dreadlocks in hand following his haircut by Bully’s Barbershop’s Rachael Bigham on Wednesday, in support of the Leukemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave. Ben eclipsed his fundraising target, so far raising over $6000 in support of patients and their families facing the devastating impact of blood cancer.
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Tup’s journey to the top
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Cutthroat O&K final clashes
PHOTO: Anita McPherson
STORY PAGE 2
Sport
Ball raised $70K
An estimated $70,000 was raised to support local mental health initiatives, through Saturday evening’s inaugural Mitsubishi Wangaratta Project 365 Gala Ball. A spin-off from the concerts previously staged by Project 365 and its band U Can Cry, the gala ball was a chance to gather 230 people for a night of dining, dancing and a
Latest Project 365 event to continue support of mental health initiatives BY SIMONE KERWIN
skerwin@ nemedia.com.au
monster auction - and most importantly, to continue the important conversations which have been shown to have an impact on local mental health. Project 365 founder Pete
Rourke said the evening was beyond anything he had imagined when the gala ball concept was suggested. “I’m still getting over the way it was so well received; it took some time to come down from all the phone calls and messages,” he said. “We were hoping for somewhere around $45,000 to $50,000, so to raise
$70,000 was amazing. “The generosity and the way people contributed was fantastic.” One story from the night which illustrated the level of local connection to the Project 365 cause centres on the final auction item which was offered on Saturday night. “Two days out from the
Selling for the highest price isn’t luck.
Selling for the highest price is Smartre 23 Baker St, Wangaratta | Ph: (03) 5722 2663 | garrynash.com.au |
event, some friends of ours called and said their 15-year-old daughter had been working on a project as a surprise, and had left it on our back porch,” Pete said. That project was a chopping board made by young Mia Bernardi, which she had inscribed with the Project 365 logo. “She said she wanted to
donate it, and on the night I thought I’d have a go at auctioning it off myself; I started the bidding at $70, it quickly went to $1000, and rose to $2000,” Pete said. The item was purchased by Wangaratta’s Maxishine Car Wash, which plans to put it on display at its Appin Street premises. ■ Continued page 2