Poppy Dowling and Claire Knight from the Gunning Public School help lift one of the bags of Gunning Gold at last year’s event. Photo: Supplied.
They call it Gunning Gold for a reason. Not only is this once-yearly sale of sheep manure snapped up by Canberra and region gardeners, it also provides much needed funds for a small country school that would otherwise have to go without what others take for granted.
Once a year, parents, students and friends of Gunning Public School gather at a local property in their worst clothes but armed with a shovel to collect and bag sheep manure. The bags are then stacked and counted, ready to be transported to Canberra gardeners just in time to prep for spring planting.
It says something, according to Gunning P&C President Lucy Knight, that as orders for the 2024 Gunning Gold sale opened, more than half of the bags were spoken for.
Ms Knight said the fundraiser had been going since 1997, raising around $300,000 for the small village school between Yass and Goulburn.
She said that in the past, like most country towns, the same people were tapped for donations every time the school needed something. “But these small businesses are the same as everyone, they’re all struggling too,” she said.
“With the cost-of-living crisis, it’s become harder for everyone,” she said.
“We needed to come up with something new, that’s why Gunning Gold works so well.”
Last year was a record for the volunteers – with more than 100 turning up to help. This year they’re aiming to sell around 1500 bags, at $60 for five bags. It has been a huge boon for the small school, providing everything from air-conditioners in classrooms to computers, teaching resources and a basketball court. It has also helped pay for swimming classes which in turn have helped save lives for country kids.
This year, the event will be held again at Luke Dowling’s farm, Denbeigh Grove at Bevendale, where he runs about 30,000 sheep.
With such a large flock, there’s always plenty of Gunning Gold to collect under the shearing shed.
Volunteers from last year’s Gunning Gold event are gearing up for an even bigger fundraiser this year. Photo: Supplied.
What sort of preparation work is involved in a Gunning Gold event? “Not a lot,” Mr Dowling said. “I’m just labour on the day and just make sure everyone has a shovel.”
About two weeks later, volunteers deliver it into Canberra.
Ms Knight said Gunning Gold was the fundraiser for the school each year.
“Being in a regional area, we have to pay to take the kids anywhere, ” she said. “Just getting a bus into Canberra can cost up to $8000.
“It used to be that the money raised went into bricks and mortar at the school, now it is needed for so many other things.”
She said through the proceeds of Gunning Gold, the aim was to give country kids the same opportunities as their city colleagues, not to lose out just because they were out of town.
Orders are now open for Gunning Gold 2024. It will be delivered to Canberra gardeners on the last Sunday in August.
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