Big Freeze to hit Korumburra

TACKLING Motor Neurone Disease is again in the spotlight at the Middle Korumburra Hotel on Sunday June 2, with the popular MND Big Freeze event again set to draw a crowd and a brave collection of participants awaiting an icy experience in the dunk tank.

Famous and individualistic 1980s footy identity Mark ‘Jacko’ Jackson and former Melbourne player David Neitz will be part of the action in the beer garden.

The popularity of Korumburra’s MND fundraising event is driven by the inspirational Neil Daniher through the yearly Big Freeze event at the MCG held before the King’s Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood.

The former Essendon player and Melbourne coach, whom Neitz played under, brings awareness to the disease through his brave battle with ‘The Beast’ and is renowned for his extraordinary positivity.

It will be the second time the dunk tank makes an appearance at the Middle Hotel, with the Korumburra event raising over $14,000 when it was last held a couple of years ago.

Publicans Ben and Elyse Fisher have hit up local community clubs to put forward some of their well-known members to be dunked for the cause.

Burra Brewing Company’s Ali Smith will be one such identity.

Korumburra-based South Gippsland Shire councillor Jenni Keerie is also set for a chilling experience.

Raffles and a ‘win your height in beer’ competition will boost fundraising efforts, with nearby Auddino Real Estate donating the beer, MND having impacted that family.

“We did one in San Remo a few years ago and the lady who won strapped buckets to her shoes,” Fish said, with that enterprising effort earning her a couple of extra slabs.

However, stilts have been ruled out.

Local identity ‘Fatty’ will be performing from about 3pm, by which stage the singer and guitarist will hopefully have thawed out after his time in the tank.

Action gets underway with a 10am breakfast, the dunking tank spectacle beginning at 12pm.