Unleash your inner bogan to aid charity

FUNDRAISER

Bogan Fest 2014 Winter Edition

Rockingham Hotel

Saturday, July 5

Prepare for a night of Aussie fun when Bogan Fest returns to the Rockingham Hotel on July 5.

It is the fourth biannual fundraiser run by Bogan and Proud to support Make-A-Wish Mandurah Rockingham.

Bogan and Proud owner and event organiser Mark Stoner said he was inspired to do something for the charity after watching his idol, Kevin Bloody Wilson, moved to tears by children seeking wishes.

“I’ve got all healthy kids so I can’t relate to these people that have sick kids, who are travelling to hospital every day and dealing with those type of things,” he said.

“This is our way to give back to the community.

“It started out as a bit of fun and a laugh, and turned out to be something really worthwhile.”

Bogan Fest has raised almost $10,000 for the local Make-A-Wish branch.

Stoner hoped to add $5000 to the tally this year and urged everyone to dig deep.

“The bogans that come down to celebrate the day know they are giving money to a Make-A-Wish volunteer on the night,” he said.

“The volunteers are there for the good of the kids.

“They have hearts of gold.”

Make-A-Wish volunteer Shelley Budd said she was proud to be associated with Bogan Fest, which was a “light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek” event.

She said every dollar counted.

“We have so many wishes on our books at the moment,” Budd said.

“Every dollar donated goes to wishes for children in the Rockingham and Mandurah area.

“A good portion of our wishes come from the Rockingham area.

“We’ve got wishes for a camper trailer and a boy who wants to be a vet just wants to meet Dr Chris Brown.”

This year’s event will include games, raffles and live music from Bogarnis, plus a bucking bull.

Stoner wants people to unleash their inner bogan and come dressed to impress.

“Anything bogan — flanno, DBs, Uggies, trackie pants, whatever you want to do — it’s entirely up to you, get in touch with your old-school bogan... for me, it’s more about putting on a good show, getting people down here and having fun,” he said.

Stoner said the success of the fundraiser showed bogans had a heart.

“Rockingham gets a bad rap for the bogan thing and that’s one of the reasons why I created Bogan Fest,” he said.

“Some people in the community want to call it a negative thing — I want to make it a positive thing.

“We’ve had people come from everywhere to celebrate Bogan Fest — they come because they know that bogans know how to have a good time.”

Doors open at 5pm and entry costs $15.

Tickets can be pre-booked at boganfest@gmail.com.