The timing was perfect for the Benalla Uniting Church fete on Saturday, October 7, with flood waters receding and the sun showing up on cue.
The fete, a collaboration between Uniting Churches in Benalla, Swanpool, Goorambat and Devenish, took three months to plan.
Organising Committee member Rosalie Thomas said everyone involved was very happy it could go ahead following days of heavy rain and flooding.
“We have the hall out of action, so we decided to put everything out the front, so we needed good weather,” Ms Thomas said.
The roof of the church’s John Cooper Methodist Hall blew off during a storm and is in the process of being fixed.
Ms Thomas said the fete was proving very popular.
“We planned to open at 8.30am, but we had people here even before that,” she said.
There was plenty for all the family at the fete, including live music, face painting, a stall making balloon animals and a sausage sizzle.
Stall holders brought houseplants, seedlings, books, fresh fruit and vegetables, jams and preserves.
There was also a morning tea served with scones and various cakes.
“Stephen Winkler provided the music, which created a lovely atmosphere outside,” Ms Thomas said.
The money raised at the fete will go to support various community initiatives.
“Like our Friday lunches, the ladies do that for people who aren’t well off in our community,” Ms Thomas said.
People might also come to the church looking for help, and funds it raises can go towards providing a voucher to buy some food, for example.