A FAMILY devastated by a bushfire four years ago are now the lucky recipients of a 2018 GT Fastback 5.0L V8, valued at $70,000, thanks to the Mount Gambier Foodbank raffle.
The Mustang, donated by Barry Maney Ford, was the top prize in the inaugural raffle, which saw around 1300 tickets purchased.
It was a big win for Belinda Cay who, along with her family, was left with almost nothing but the clothes on their backs after the 2015 Pinery fire ripped through their farm.
The catastrophic bushfire destroyed around 86,000 hectares of scrub and farmland around the Lower Mid North, including 91 houses, 93 pieces of farm machinery and 98 other vehicles.
“In 2015 we owned a property in Pinery and we lost everything in the bushfires,” she said.
“My mum and dad’s farm went first and then the fire crossed the road and through the paddock and took ours as well.
“We lost every single thing we owned, including our cars.
“We barely had time to grab anything from inside the house – everything was gone.”
Ms Cay said the family had to start all over again and move on from the tragedy.
Soon after, she gave birth to twin daughters, who were 10 weeks premature.
“It was a pretty scary time when they were born so early,” she said.
“Due to being premature, my littlest has been in hospital about 180 days over the last three years.
“It has been a tough time for our family but we have stayed an optimistic family.”
Despite going through a devastating period few may experience in a lifetime, Ms Cay said it was important to her family to give back wherever they could.
“We buy quite a few lotto tickets to support different causes like hospitals, research funds or community groups,” she said.
“It is not like we ever expect to win, I just think it is so important to give back to these charities.
“It is a pretty easy decision to support these causes when you are in an okay position, especially because you never know when you will need their help.”
Ms Cay said without community support after losing the farm, her family would not be where it is.
“So many people supported us and we were the recipients of so much generosity,” she said.
“What we have done over the past four years is try and pay it forward.
“My kids helped out with the drought fund at school, we send parcels to people when they lose their homes or things like that.
“We received so much support from complete strangers when we lost everything, I just think it has made us realise how lucky we are and how amazing a community is when it gets behind these kind of causes.”
Ms Cay said despite her family’s frequent entry into charity-based lotteries, she never dreamed she would take home a Mustang
“You never enter anything thinking you are going to win- especially not a Mustang,” she said.
“When Lynne (Neshoda) called me I thought it was a prank call – I could not believe I had won.
“I think I maybe won some jelly beans when I was about six, but beyond that I do not win anything.
“It was just such a shock – I could not believe how lucky we were.”
As a mum of four young children, Ms Cay said the Mustang was a “parents-only” car.
“There will definitely be no food or mess in the car,” she said.
“I think it will be a special mum and dad weekend kind of car.
“I expect to take a lot of scenic drives around the Barossa.”
Port MacDonnell resident Rob Elliot was the second prize winner of $5000 and has already pledged to donate $1000 back to Foodbank, with Adelaide’s Adam Falkenberg taking home $2500 for third.
The raffle raised $60,000 in profit with everything being put back into the South East community.
“The money will go such a long way in supporting those in need in the community,” Mount Gambier Foodbank branch manager Lynne Neshoda said.
“All the community members, groups and businesses that helped put this all together.
“We sold 1300 of the 1900 tickets which we are so happy with and we cannot thank everyone enough for getting behind us.
“You never realise how much people are willing to do for their community until you need help.
“We are so lucky here to have so much support and this raffle just proves that generosity.”
