Spring Fair Committee member Jenny Clarke holds more than a thousand dollars’ worth of vouchers being offered in silent auctions and raffles.

Silent Auction launches KDH Spring Fair with a bang

Aug 17, 2023

A century-old tradition returns to Kempsey District Hospital (KDH) next month with the United Hospital Auxiliary Spring Fair.

The popular fundraiser for the hospital took a break during COVID-19, but it is back this year bigger and better than ever.

Macleay businesses have thrown their support behind the fair, donating thousands of dollars in prizes, most of which are being featured in four silent auctions in the lead up to the Saturday 16 September fete.

The first silent auction closes at 5pm this Sunday, and features a 12-month membership to Anytime Fitness, valued at $1500, and a $300 Akubra voucher.

Bidding will start on another silent auction featuring great prizes next Monday, and so on until the fair.

To bid on an item, email mnclhd-kem-eodonmea@health.nsw.gov.au or text/phone 0400 922 148, with the item you are bidding on, amount of your bid, name and contact number.

Fete day will feature market stalls, live music from the Haigh Brothers, Devonshire teas, a coffee cart, books, plants from Kempsey U3A Garden Club, and so much more. Children will be well catered for with a Bunnings craft stall, face painting, pony rides, colouring competition, lucky dips and ice creams. Health information stands will also be present, providing advice and answers to questions on mental health and cancer.

There will be guessing competitions, lucky dips, a ‘goose’ raffle where tickets match numbered prizes, and photo opportunities with NSW Fire + Rescue, Ambulance and Police vehicles.

With hundreds of prizes on offer through the silent auctions, UHA raffle, goose raffle, lucky dips and a chocolate wheel, there really is something for everyone in the 2023 KDH UHA Spring Fair.

KDH’s Acting Executive Officer Katie Croad said the community’s response to the fair had been phenomenal.

“Our hospital volunteers have done an extraordinary job, knocking on doors to secure prizes for the fundraiser,” Ms Croad said.

“They are an amazing, dedicated group of men and women, and everyone at KDH is in awe of them.

“We are also grateful for the support from local businesses for their generosity and humbled by it. The Macleay is home to can-do people and the success of this Spring Fair, even before it has been held, is testament to that wonderful sense of identity and community spirit.

“Our staff are also throwing their support behind the event, with many hours going in to organising the fete and collecting donations.”

Anyone wanting to get involved in the silent auctions before the event should go to the Kempsey District Hospital and UHA Spring Fair Facebook event page and click on the ‘discussion’ tab’ to check out the exciting items on offer.

And don’t forget to save the date, Saturday 16 September, at the hospital grounds facing River Street.