Last night I went to the Captains meeting for the Relay for Life as it is only a few weeks away.
I was to discover only after the event was over that it was Lisa Domenys birthday....no I am not going to tell you how old she is but she turns 40 next year....he he!
So the wonderful Co ordinator of the Relay for Life has quietly celebrated a birthday mmmmm
Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you
These are for you Lisa my dear friend
A whole field of flowers
Two years ago....it only seems like yesterday my kids and I were in the Scrappers Ink Team for the relay for life at the SWR ovals.
To get everyone inspired and to encourage everyone to place a team in this years Relay for life in September take a look at the album that shows just how much fun it is to be actively involved in a fantastic community fundraiser.
Just click on the album - Relay for Life flashback
This was our final photo shoot and it was to be the final month in the calender.
Lisa had a dream....the dream was to include as many Macleay residents as possible in this calender, she wanted a person or group to represent each area.
Most places were eager, some were a little difficult to find a group willing to disrobe.
The thing that was bothering Lisa was we had no one that we knew of to represent Gladstone, Smithtown however, we had the Hot Rod guys who organised their beatuiful cars to be in the shot and was to be taken on the banks of the Macleay River that sweeps past Smithtown.
We organised to meet at the Riverside Hotel and while we were waiting for the models to arrive.......Lisa, as I mentioned before has very persuasive talents decided to try once more to find a Gladstone representative.
Into the Hotel she went, determined to find someone... anyone that lived over the river.
Most men shook their heads with a definate NO! But one guy....we only needed one, said yes....Where do you live? ummm close to Gladstone.....that will do!
Lisa just forgot to mention that he had to take his clothes off....worry about that later!
Okay off we zoom to the riverside bank and park the cars so the backdrop is the river, Just across the road the neighbours all came out for a giggle and a car kept driving past, beeping its horn! We had a audience - The boys handled it very professionally.
They all posed themselves around the hot rods and then the guys began to disrobed and the look on the Gladstone man when he realised what he had to do 
was priceless...what had he got himself into!
But he was a very good sport and went along with the whole thing in great spirits.
These men kindly ran the raffle and BBQ on the day of the launch - what legends!
This would have to be the most talked about month...I have a feeling it would be the comical factor as the reason.
These great blokes and one lady from Stuarts Point have done their town proud! It was completely their own idea and concept and Lisa and I couldn't have asked for a better pose!
I am often asked, "How did you do it?".....How come they're so happy..he he?.....what's the secret?
Not telling - trade secrets!!
The team put in a lot of effort, a big dash of sense of humour and a fantastic attitude to create one of the most popular months of the calender.....well done!
Theses guys were a cheeky lot, that kept Lisa and I in hysterics - with jokes flying and funny antics these guys all contributed in making this calender so popular.
Put your tools down - change positions - mmmmmmm I left myself open for some cheeky responses
The wonderful lady, the only lady in the shoot was a fantastic sport. Janine should be very proud to represent the females in the fire brigade - well done and three cheers for you!
The lovely thing about being involved in the calender as I got to meet so many great people all willing to help raise money for such an important cause...I think in a lot of ways, most of us are touched someway by cancer and of the models (133 Macleay residents) it was their way to show their support.
Now for a complete topic change and a bit of a plug for a well deserved model, Dave Young........
go and try YOUNGY'S CHOICE
If you are ever at SWR markets on a Saturday morning make sure you drop in at Dave Youngs stall where he and his lovely wife sell the most yummiest jams, sauces and pickles you would ever taste!
I was very fortunate to try some Jam and mango butter - to die for! the Chilli however I left to my hubby as Im not a HOT food lover - but he said it was great! They make a really really hot chilli as well!
Our Calender launching that was held at the Smithtown Riverside Hotel on Sunday the 23rd July and we were a little nervous to what the response would be.....will any one turn up?......Will they like the calander?........Will we make any money for cancer?.....is the rain going to hold off?....the nerves were in full force.
We were so relieved and overwhelmed by the positive reaction we recieved from the calander, the day was fantastic with hundreds of people wanting to get their hands on the calander.
We sold 336 calanders in the first two hours, phew and raised over $3000. The Cancer committee working non stop for hours selling up to 15 to one person.
Someone mentioned they were sending some off over seas.
Smithtown Riverside Hotel were very supportive and nominated their venue to hold the launch they also held raffles and ran a BBQ with all proceeds going to the Relay for Life. Three cheers for the boys! Thank you thank you
We made the front of the SWR News!
The Aqua fitness ladies and the calander boys from January, Ben, Will and Luke all made the front cover.
Here is Lisa and I at the launch, also inside the SWR News along with Georgina and Joy from Crescent Head.
We were so relieved that the models all approved of their exposure he he in the calender
Finally I have registered my team...I have entered my all girls soccer team that I coach.
SWAT and Co.......the Swat stands for Soccer with attitude team....and the girls have just been announced as Minor Premiers of the Season...just a little brag..go girls!
Now is the time to get organised and join in the fun...it is not that far away.
Here is my Team....I am so proud of the girls as this is their first year playing in an all gals team.
We are hard at work discussing fundraising ideas.
Splish Splash.....the Aqua fitness ladies are true legends!
Ummmm well I suppose I have to say the first shoot was a bit of a disaster..the light was harsh and bright, the location was a little too far way as we had to trek over rocks and such. We had way too many props.. he he not that props are not good but you can have too many!
We decided to take the ladies to the mermaid Pools... the idea was fantastic...and Deb Lisa and myself could imagine what a great scene it would make to have the ladies lolling about in the water like beatuiful mermaids.....the reality was it was way too difficult to get the ladies down the rocks....ohhh dear as soon as we reached the spot I knew the light was not going to be kind and I tried really hard to make the best of the situation...mmmm I was not happy Jan! I explained to Lisa that there was a problem and we decided to reschedual another day but this time keep it simple - back to the pool!
The relief to abandon all togs all props and be lucky enough to have a lovely overcast day was a blessing straight away I knew that this was going to be so much better.
The ladies seemed to be more at ease and felt at home with the water creating a natural prop.....yehah it worked and I went home knowing that we were right to rephotograph.
The only thing that was missing and I am kicking myself everytime I look at the calendar as that we should have had Steve in the background mowing the lawn in the nude!
I am positive we would have sold so many more calendars.
Well done Ladies and thank you for your patience, time and sense of humour!
Thanks to Deb 
for her encouragement and kind persistance in involving so many ladies.
A little glimpse of the first shoot.....
Too many props!
Yes we got it! Go girls!
