Boorowa came alive over the weekend as locals rallied behind a heartfelt cause, with a packed schedule of fundraising events for Scleroderma Australia taking place across three days.
Organised by Sammi Jansen, the weekend honoured her late mother and raised vital funds and awareness for those affected by the rare autoimmune disease, scleroderma.
The action kicked off on Friday night with a spirited darts competition at the Boorowa Golf and Recreation Club.
“We had 26 people come out for darts, which was a great way to start the weekend,” said Jansen. “There was a fantastic energy in the room lots of laughter, friendly rivalry, and all for a good cause.” The winners on the night were Kieran Hearne and Jack Best from Binalong, who walked away with bragging rights after some close-fought games.
Saturday saw the community turn out in even greater numbers. The afternoon barefoot bowls event drew 22 participants, with Adele Corcoran, David Jansen and Ace Summerfield claiming victory on the greens.
“The bowls turnout was fantastic. Everyone was in high spirits, and the weather held up beautifully,” Jansen said.
One of the standout moments of the weekend came later that day, when more than 60 local children gathered for a last-minute addition to the schedule: a kids’ disco led by talented local performer Jane Dee.
“It was honestly amazing,” Jansen reflected. “Jane was fantastic. She put on the disco for the kids, and they had an absolute ball. It was something we hadn’t originally planned, but it ended up being one of the most special parts of the whole weekend.”
Later that evening, more than 80 people packed into the Recreation Club for a karaoke and live music night.
“It was such a great vibe everyone dancing, singing, just having a really good time,” said Jansen. “It’s always a hit, and Jane Dee really lit up the room with her performance. The karaoke got going once a few people found their confidence and maybe had a drink or two.”
The weekend wrapped up on Sunday with the Kingsley Golf Tournament, named in memory of Sammi’s mum. A strong field of 28 players took to the course for the two-person Ambrose format. In the end, it was Mitchell Leslie and Graham Trainer who claimed top honours.
“Everyone had such a great time out on the course,” Jansen said. “Golf is a big thing in Boorowa, and it’s always a highlight.”
To mark the end of the weekend and National Scleroderma Day, the Boorowa town clock was lit in yellow as part of the national Shine Like a Sunflower campaign a symbolic tribute to those living with and lost to scleroderma. Jansen said she was overwhelmed with the community support and turnout.
“To see so many people show up across the weekend was honestly heartwarming. I feel so blessed to be able to hold these events in memory of my mum,” she said.
“Each year, I want to grow it bigger and better. I’m so fortunate to have the kind of community that shows up, gets involved, and really cares.”
The weekend may be over, but the impact will last far longer, with funds raised going directly to Scleroderma Australia to support research and those living with the disease. More importantly, it sparked the kind of community spirit and awareness that Sammi’s mum would no doubt be proud of.
-Liam Stuart
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