Arts
8 April, 2026
CWA raises $3300 for bushfire relief appeal
A FUNDRAISER for Harcourt bushfire relief held at one of the region’s finest stately homes, Nimmitabel in Inglewood, has raised about $3300.
It is the third time that owner Lisa Colandro has held an open day at the mansion, which dates from 1881, and featured on ABC TV’s Restoration Australia program last year.
This year saw 65 people attend on Saturday, with tours of the mansion and performances by Bendigo-based opera singer David Chalmers among the day’s highlights.
The Ashburton branch of the Country Women’s Association, of which Lisa is a member, organised a lavish afternoon tea, and a raffle of local produce also helped raise funds.
The raffle hamper included wine from Black Wallaby and Water Wheel vineyards, meat from Inglewood’s Fat Butcher, and an overnight apartment stay at Wine Bank on View in Bendigo.
The afternoon was also an opportunity for local CWA members to meet some of their city counterparts.
“It was a fabulous day, and we had terrific weather,” Lisa said on Monday. We raised the price to $30 this year because of the Harcourt fires.”
She said Chalmers, who has performed with the Australian and Victoria opera companies, was delighted to be asked to sing on the day. “Both his mother and grandmother were members of the CWA.”
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