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Ride for a Roof rocks Wyreema

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In less than 48 hours, Bracknell Lodge was transformed into an arena, hosting the ‘Ride for a Roof’ event raising money for the newly-formed Common Ground Foundation.

The event was organised to raise money to purchase a house in Toowoomba in which families can stay while they have a loved one in hospital.

And raise money it did.

Although the final figure has not been confirmed, it can be assumed to be well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. A live auction held on the night raised $137,000, with other money also raised through ticket sales, drinks sales, a Calcutta, an online auction and cash donations.

Common Ground Foundation began just three months ago, started by close friends Felicity Burton of Brymaroo and mother-and-daughter Belinda and Georgie Keats from Mount Tyson, who each serve as founding directors and used their connections in the rodeo and agricultural communities to get the event up and running.

All three women have personal connections to people from out of town who have had to visit loved ones in hospital and know people from all over who have the same experience.

One such connection was with Bek and Rick Knudsen, owners of Bracknell Lodge, who were more than happy to use their picturesque venue to host the fundraiser.

Plenty of action at Bracknell Lodge

With tickets only coming on sale two weeks before the event, Mrs Burton said she was thrilled to have a sell-out, totalling 350 tickets.

World-class quality competition was on display from Xtreme Broncs Australia, including many accomplished on the Australian and American circuits.

Organiser Felicity Burton said it was an “amazing, awesome” night.

“Everyone had a great night,” Mrs Burton said.

She said the event was such a success that the Common Ground Foundation is already considering hosting a similar event, maybe even making it into an annual occurrence.

Although significant funds were raised, houses are not cheap and thus the Foundation still has more money to raise in order to purchase one.

Mrs Burton said coming into 2023, they are looking for corporate partnerships.

“We are so grateful for all the community support we’ve had so far,” she said.

“We really tapped into the ag space to make it all happen so we’re looking to reach the broader community now.”

Among the guests were rugby league coaching legend Wayne Bennett, Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Maroons star Kurt Capewell and Toowoomba Region Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald, who officially opened the event.

On Our Selection News 1 December 2022

This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 1 December 2022.

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