By Parker McKenzie
Locals will be able to score a bargain or give their possessions a second home ahead Upwey CFA’s Jumble Sale on Saturday 6 May.
The once-a-year tradition, which has unfortunately been curtailed since the Covid-19 pandemic began, will be held at the Upwey Fire Station at 134 Old Belgrave Road, Upwey from 9am to 2pm.
Upwey CFA brigade captain Cliff Pancutt said the Jumble Sale has been held for over 50 years and the brigade is asking people to donate clean, working items to sell during the event.
“This is our first since 2019 due to Covid shutting everything down. It’s been widely anticipated by the community, people have been reaching out to us all the time as to when it was coming back,” he said.
“It’s great to be able to put it on again and continue holding one of the largest and longest-running sales for the area.”
A raffle and an all-day BBQ will be held at the Fire Station throughout the Jumble Sale, with all proceed to go towards Upwey CFA.
Mr Pancutt said the Jumble Sale is the largest source of fundraising for the brigade.
“To have this put on hold for three years was a real dent in where we’re going, it’s just delayed things,” he said.
“We’re very fortunate that the community has allowed us to fund three response vehicles, we have a specialist light vehicle, we have a smaller tanker and we also have a new support vehicle.”
Mr Pancutt said the brigade considers itself very lucky to have community support because the vast majority of fundraising goes back into replacing those vehicles.
“All of those vehicles are now on a 20-year replacement program, so when you’ve got vehicles that cost the amount they do, it’s extremely important that we hold fundraising events to be able to maintain that community service,” he said.
“It’s also the one time a year where the brigade members can have a chat with the community as they come through, and it’s something that builds a great rapport between the community and us.”
Items that can’t be donated include corner TV cabinets, large TV cabinets, renovation materials, whitegoods, beds, bedding, mattresses, clothing, carpets/rugs, blinds, sofa beds, older and heavy-style lounge suites, non-digital TVs or TVs without remotes, old computers, rusty or old BBQs, wheels and tyres, radiograms, speakers, singular office or kitchen chairs, child car seats, prams, videotapes, encyclopaedias, magazines, bags, backpacks or suitcases.
Mr Pancutt said the brigade is after good quality items that people want to move along and donate to help fundraise.
“Things that would otherwise have gone on the hard rubbish collection, probably need to go on the hard rubbish collection,” he said.
“People want to come and buy some good quality gear and get a bargain.”
Anyone interested in donating items for the Jumble Sale can contact Upwey CFA by emailing jumblesale@upweycfa.org.au to organise for the items to be picked up or dropped off.
