Adding to the hundreds of thousands of dollars being raised across the district for the CFA and bushfire relief, a pub in Creswick was able to scramble and raise more than $20,000.
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Tthe owners at the Farmers Arms Hotel decided to hold a day out at the pub to help with bushfire relief, and just six days later, hundreds of people arrived for auctions, live music, and a barbecue.
All money raised will go to the local CFA District 15, which currently has several crews working in Gippsland, and Wildlife Victoria, to help the thousands of animals affected by the fires.
Dozens of items were donated for the auctions from businesses and artists across the district, and from as far away as Melbourne.
Owners Christine Molloy and Richard McKeown said they were blown away by the response.
"I still can't believe we raised more than $20,000," Ms Molloy said.
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"As a small country pub, that's insane."
The biggest item on the bill for the auction was a fully installed pond and water feature, with a waterfall, from Newlyn's Bells Water Gardens.
Mr McKeown said businesses had been exceptionally generous, as well as local musicians and cabaret performers who volunteered their time on the day.
"There's so many people we'd like to thank for it, we'd like to express love and thanks and gratitude to everyone involved," he said.
"Sometimes the human race is quite nasty to each other, but with things like this, when they come together, it gives you hope."
Ms Molloy added supporting local brigades was important, especially as they continued to rotate through dangerous areas on the other side of the state.
"A lot of them couldn't come because they were all on fires," she said.
"We know, personally, maybe 10 firies out here, and we didn't see any of them because they were all out."
Sunday's fundraiser added to the huge totals raised by other events across the district, including in Buninyong last Thursday night, and there are still several major events planned.
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