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Council staff back a donkey in the Melbourne Cup. And a chicken. And a fruit tree...

Tuesday was the Melbourne Cup. Widely referred to as the ‘race that stops a nation’, for most workplaces it sees some betting sweeps and an afternoon tea. However Margaret Streater from Council’s Children’s Services had a different idea for the Cup – Council staff should back a donkey!

Not just any donkey mind you, but a donkey from Oxfam. Oxfam have a number of gifts available to help people living in poverty and disadvantage. Donkeys are used in emergencies to carry essential medicine and food packages where vehicles can’t access.

So on Melbourne Cup day Margaret went around and collected money from staff for the donkey, and ended up collecting an impressive $390.30! On top of the donkey, this enabled her to directly support:
• Water for a school in Cambodia
• Breakfast for HIV positive children in South Africa
• A couple of goats for a family in Mozambique
• A chicken for a family in Laos
• Fruit trees for a community in South Africa

Thanks to Margaret for organising the collection and to all of the Council staff who donated their own money instead of having a flutter on the Cup.

For more information on how you can support initiatives like this, check out the Oxfam shop www.oxfamshop.org.au