Lilian and Peter Skilbeck are opening their gardens at the historic Plaistow Homestead to host a Biggest Morning Tea over Thursday and Saturday this week.
The annual Cancer Council Victoria fundraiser has special significance for the Joyces Creek couple. They lost their daughter Tamara to cancer 20 years ago this Friday and have been raising funds in her honour since.
The Skilbecks said last year’s COVID challenges saw a large decline in donated funds to help CCV in their research into cancer and to assist them to support those in our community living with cancer. As a result, the Skilbecks decided to make up for last year’s lost opportunity and host two events in 2021.
This year Tamara’s daughters Madison and Poppie, and their cousin Erin, are also getting on board to help bake scones and prepare the spread for the special event.
Unlike other years, the bottomless cups of tea and coffee and scones fresh from the ovens will be served in a marquee on the grass area, east of the house. The kitchen and lounge will not be open to the public. However, there will be stalls with handcrafts, jams and sauces and plants and raffles on both days.
Platform Souls will provide live music and Lil says fellow musicians are welcome to bring along their instruments to join in.
Morning teas will be available from 10am to 12.30pm on each day.
The Heritage Victoria registered Plaistow Homestead and Store is located at 324 Rodborough Road Joyces Creek.
This will be a COVIDSafe event with sanitiser, QR code or manual registration of visitors/volunteers and social distancing.
To assist as a volunteer, or to host a stall, call the Skilbecks on 5476 2450 or 0419 884 710.
Entry to the gardens is by donation at the gate. All proceeds go to Cancer Council Victoria.
