There might not have been a Dancing with the Stars event this year, but one lucky winner will soon have the keys to a brand new car following the drawing of Gwydir Industries' major raffle this week.
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Lucy Brownhill is now the owner of a 2019 silver pearl Toyota Yaris Ascent, as the lucky first prize raffle winner.
The winning ticket was drawn out by Gwydir Industries client Adam Love during a special event on Tuesday.
About 50 people, including Gwydir Industries clients, staff, sponsors, supporters and board members, gathered under the organisation's new undercover area for a morning tea before the raffle was drawn.
The raffle was originally meant to be drawn at Dancing with the Stars in March this year, however in January the board made the decision to postpone the popular event until 2021 as a result of the drought. As it turns out, COVID-19 would have prevented it from going ahead anyway.
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By default, the car raffle became Gwydir Industries' major fundraiser for the year, with all funds raised going back into the general running of the organisation. Money raised will also be helping to support the funding of the new truck which Gwydir Industries recently purchased for its cardboard and recycling collection.
Gwydir Industries board member Peter Weal said ticket sales were good, considering the circumstances.
"Ticket sales haven't been all that easy given COVID-19 times and that the bulk of the selling time was during the drought," he said.
"But we're very happy with the community's support and corporate support.
"We really appreciate the community's support for Gwydir Industries; it always has been there and we're looking forward to their support in the future.
"Full marks also go to everyone here at Gwydir Industries for how they've handled things during COVID-19. These guys have had a skeleton staff, but they've really displayed a lot of resilience to keep the place operational. We're really appreciative of the work of the staff through this tough time."
Mr Weal also thanked the Moree Desperates Golfing Group who sponsored the cost of the car from Tait Toyota.
"It was very generous in these tough times and took a little bit of the pressure of the tickets sales," he said.
Second prize in the raffle was $2000 worth of garden furniture with a coffee table from My Store Moree, which went to Malcolm McNiven.
Jaymie McDonald won the third prize $1000 voucher from M&G Travel, while John Adams was the fourth prize winner of a $1000 BP fuel card, donated by Campbell's Fuel Service.
After the raffle was drawn, a special presentation was made to Mr Weal, who recently stepped down as the Gwydir Industries chair following his move to Orange.
Bill Crawford has stepped up as the new president of the board.