Rochy community members gathered at Rochester Sports Museum for the community barbecue and heart health testing on Friday, July 12.
Supported by Rochester Business Network and the Lions Club, locals were served up free souvlakis, as well as free coffee from Mum & Me coffee cart.
The event aimed to get more Rochy residents using the Shane Warne Legacy Heart Test, housed at the museum until July 26.
RBN’s Megan Weeks was happy to see guests use the machine, as well as check out the museum and connect with the community.
“The more people we can get to do the heart health machine and even see the video in the museum, the better,” she said.
“We’re not the healthiest town ... that’s why it’s here.
“That was a big push, and why the RBN funded the heart health machine.”
Rochester Lions Club president John Atley has enjoyed seeing a change in the community since the heart health machine arrived.
“It’s so good,” he said.
“I’m walking down the street, and getting people saying they’ve done the heart test, got a bit of a shock and they’ve changed just a little bit.
“I went to a local business here, and he walks out at lunchtime, and he’s got a shake. He sees me and goes, ‘this is since I did the heart machine’.
“Even just a little change, great!”
Mr Atley and the RBN are impressed with the reception the test has received, as well as the additional exposure it has given to the sports museum.
“It’s exceeded our expectations,” Mr Atley said.
“As much as it has been for the town and the people, the publicity the museum’s got ... people are aware how good it is.”
Rochester Fish & Chips’ Tony Raudis featured as a special guest, helping to cook up the souvas.
“We just asked, (Tony) was keen,” Ms Weeks said.
“Getting the businesses involved in an event like this, which is community groups and business owners, it’s amazing.”
The Shane Warne Legacy Heart Test will be at Rochester Sports Museum, 22-26 Moore St, until Friday, July 26.