KAYLA TO BREEZE THROUGH UNDIES RUN
SPIRITS will soar when South East resident Kayla Gray strips down on Monday for the annual Cancer Council’s SA Undies Run.
Running around the Adelaide Oval in underwear just before the Adelaide Strikers Game will “be a breeze” for the former Bachelor contestant.
While somewhat risque in nature, the fundraiser carries a deeper cause for Kayla.
“As many may know my beautiful Mum lost her battle to bowel cancer and passed away November last year,” Ms Gray said.
“Cancer Council SA were incredible to my Mum while she was battling cancer so now it is my turn to repay them back the favour.
“I have raised over $2500 which will go towards bowel cancer research projects, practical and psycho-social support for individuals and families impacted by this terrible disease.”
The run includes two laps of the oval and is capped at 200 participants who have all committed to raising at least $300 for bowl cancer research.
Ms Gray said she recently visited the facilities where her mother Donna received treatment.
“I visited Cancer Council SA’s head office and Greenhill Lodge where Mum stayed when she was receiving treatment last Thursday,” she said.
“It brought back a lot of memories for me.
“The money being raised is going to such a great cause.”
Ms Gray said every dollar counts.
“Bowel cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer death in South Australia, claiming over 400 lives every year,” she said.
“The least I can do is strip down to my undies in front of tens of thousands of people.
“Together we can knock bowel cancer for six.”
Ms Gray was thankful to everyone who did donate money towards Cancer Council SA.
Bronwyn Koch: Go Kayla xx
Bek Coates: My mum stayed at Greenhill Lodge too, such a good cause. You are a star Kayla!
Ruth Heaver: That is awesome Kayla. You go girl!
Robert Dawe: Well done Kayla, mum will be with you all the way she would be so proud just like Grandma and Demi.
Peter Sandra Mansell: Go Kayla, your Mum would be so proud xx
SAINTS RETURN TO TRACK
THE spirit of the Nangwarry Saints was on display for all to see on Tuesday evening when dozens of footballers hit the track less than a week since the clubrooms were destroyed by fire.
The devastation of last Wednesday night’s events was not enough to deter more than 50 men and women of all ages from pulling on the boots.
In fact, Nangwarry coach David Stratman believed the unfortunate situation had made the club and its stakeholders more united.
“You could not be prouder of the way everyone has responded,” Stratman said.
“It makes it a pretty special place to be.”
Those comments resonated in the smiles that beamed on the faces of the players as they kicked footballs in front of the backdrop of a clubrooms which were now unrecognisable.
With beers on tap and the same familiar faces cooking the barbecue, dozens of supporters of the club were in attendance to show a united front in the wake of a difficult situation.
Andi Zerk: That is the spirit of Nangwarry.
Lynne Kuchta: Go Saints!
Tanya Bierwirth-Leigh: That is brilliant! Well done Nangwarry.
Kay Redheadd: Well done Saints.
OCTOPUS EVENT THROWN OUT
MOVING with the times the Port MacDonnell Bay Escape Bay Escape – Food, Wine and Lifestyle committee has made a stand, tossing the popular yet controversial Octopus Toss event.
The famous event saw competitors throw a thawed-out octopus as far as they could, drawing thousands of spectators annually to the long-running summer festival.
Bay Escape event coordinator Ryan Donovan said the committee had carefully considered recent feedback and decided it was time to toss the toss.
“The public have spoken and we have listened,” he said.
“The octopus toss might have been popular for many years but it is outdated and no longer appropriate or ethical to have an event of this type.
“It is a decision which we believe reflects the majority view of the community and we are happy to respect their wishes.”
Ben Reynolds: Soon you will not even be able to hold the event on the foreshore because it might be hurting the feelings of the lawn.
Zack Williams: Wonder if these people that complain about the octopus throw actually go and support the event?
Donz Meredith Hodgetts: Good that’s just disgusting.
ILLUSTRATOR REMEMBERED FOR ARTISTIC IMPACT
A previous train driver and botanical illustrator, Stan Kelly OAM was recently remembered for his significant artistic impact.
Passing away in 2001, Mr Kelly was a locomotive driver from Ararat and shared a for Australian nature.
Mr Kelly would slow down the train whenever it passed through “attractive bushland” jumping out to collect eucalyptus for painting.
What began as a hobby for Mr Kelly developed into a consuming passion.
He spent 32 years travelling around large areas of Australia collecting and painting specimens.
Along his journey he became recognised as one of Australia’s premier botanical illustrators.
His watercolours are extremely detailed, portraying true colour, shape and cluster configuration.
Mr Kelly was able to define the unique differences between species to a level suitable for scientific identification.
His most celebrated work, Eucalypts Vol 1 and 2, was published in 1969 and became a core reference work for students of Australian botany.
Little did Mr Kelly know, his paintings would one day feature on Australian passports.
Mr Kelly received an Order of Australia Medal in 1980 in recognition of his work.
He was busy documenting Australian fungi when he passed away in 2001.
Barbara Laffan: What a lovely man so interesting by the sounds. A man of nature.
June Houlston: Great story.
Linda Handscombe: And what a wonderful man he was. He was a member of our Grampians Australian Plants Group. He would spend hours painting little plant pictures for visitors at our Pomonal Native Flower Show
