• Bega Cheese chairman Barry Irvin receives an official Tathra Wharf to Waves T-shirt and hat from committee member Therese Wheatley.
THIS weekend’s Tathra Wharf to Waves event will be sponsored for a third year running by Bega Cheese.
The organising committee needs to raise about $15,000 to run the event and relies on its various and generous cash sponsors to cover those costs.
As the Wharf to Waves is a volunteer-run event, all money raised over that amount is then distributed to community organisations Tathra Surf Life Saving Club, Tathra Pre-School and the Tathra Fire Service.
Organising committee secretary Therese Wheatley said Bega Cheese jumped on board in 2010 as the event’s major sponsor.
“For the past three years, Bega Cheese has provided $15,000, which has helped us run the event,” she said.
“And over these years we have provided $66,000 back to our community.
“The whole community benefits.
“It is a great event showcasing our beautiful coastline, our dynamic community, and keeps our local businesses busy.”
Bega Cheese chairman Barry Irvin said the company was delighted to support the Tathra Wharf to Waves again in 2013.
“An event such as this brings great benefit to the local community,” Mr Irvin said.
“We love to invest into the community – it’s extremely important to put money back into the community.
“It’s then up to the community do something more with what we have invested.
“It’s even better to invest into something that can grow.”
Mr Irvin said the Wharf to Waves was a fantastic achievement given it was all run by volunteers for the community.
“Months of work by the organising committee go into preparing for a weekend like this, where both the community and visitors come to compete and have fun in a wonderful environment,” he said.
The Wharf to Waves organising committee is a sub-committee of the Tathra Surf Life Saving Club, relying on its members and pre-school parents to undertake the many and varied jobs to ensure a successful event.
The volunteers’ jobs include registration, water safety, marshalling, first aid, merchandise, refreshments, wranglers, drivers, and setting up barriers, shade and signage.
