Central residents and visitors did not let the rain stop them from supporting the annual fundraising fete in St Bathans on Sunday, January 14.

The day raised a few thousand for the refurbishment of the St Bathans post office, which opened in 1909 and operated until 1937, before becoming a private residence and later an historic reserve. 

St Bathans Area Community Association (SBACA) secretary Alison Fitzgerald said the amount raised was wonderful.

“The weather was a huge challenge for us but that’s weather for you, the one thing we couldn’t control. We are still wondering what we had done to upset the gods so much that they deemed it necessary to rain down on our fete.

“We had a little over 1000 people attend despite the awful weather and we absolutely love them for coming,” she said.

“A ton of work was done behind the scenes, and the changes we implemented . . . this year like closing the road to improve pedestrian safety, providing eftpos and a cash out facility, a golf cart for transportation of the disabled and elderly and parking at the St Bathans Domain with a shuttle bus service all went very well." 

Organisers thanked the Vulcan Hotel, Ken Gillespie, Omakau Young Farmers Association, Pete of TMC Ltd for traffic management and road closure, and the community volunteers who gave their time, energy and equipment to help. 

Around 60 stall holders with local produce, pottery, crafts, gifts, jewellery and collectibles braved the conditions holding down tents, gazebos and sheltering as best as they could.

At the start of the market the weather was clear, but late morning the rain and wind set in.

The historic Vulcan Hotel was standing room only as many people sheltered inside out of the rain. 

The post office, which the St Bathans Area Community Association (SBACA) plans to refurbish was open to the public, and many people browsed inside at the historic photos and documents and looked around the postmasters residence upstairs.

Read more: St Bathans Village Fete to support refurbishing post office

Organisers congratulated the following raffle winners. Helicopter scenic flight to Colleen Newberry; Grahame Sydney prints and book to Fiona Murdoch; Vulcan Hotel accommodation to Allen Harley; Birgit Krippner print to Chris Freer; Pixierouge Photography print to Star Josephs; Nadia Lim basket to Cornelius van der Klundert; Vulcan Hotel meal voucher to Teresa Morrison; Chatto Creek meal voucher to Shona Familton; Pixierouge Photography print to Sue Kirwan and the Dark Horse coffee gift pack to Troy Mihaka.