Members of the club industry came from around the state to the Orange Ex-Services’ Club on Friday for a fundraising lunch that raised $200,000 for victims of the devastating floods in 2022.

The Unite & Raise For the Central West Flood appeal luncheon was inspired by a similar event held in support of the 2020 bushfires.

“It's our industry united together. so we have a mix of metro clubs, regional clubs, trade manufacturers, local vineyards, food supplies — everyone's come together to try and raise as much money as we can for the central west NSW floods,” said Tarnequa Smart of Smart Exposure, organisers of the event.

“My Mum's actually from Parkes, so for us, it was a bit close to home; it really touched us so we wanted to give back.

“We're quite blessed in our industry, and it's some way that we can try and make other people's lives a bit better when they're going through the worst part of their life.”

The Unite and Raise event raised close to $200,000 through a mixture of live and silent auctions and generous donations.

Speaking at the event on Friday was ex-Eugowra local Andrew Barnes, who on seeing the devastating situation of his family and friends began telling their stories to the world.

“I'm a cameraman, I’ve worked in media for years, my wife's a journalist, so I just could see how I could help in different ways and probably how other people could,” Andrew said.

“So I wrote stories about the people, about what happened, how they’d literally got away with their lives and kicked off a lot of fundraising.”

Andrew is on a mission to raise half a million dollars for the Eugowra community and on Friday, he was joined on stage by long-time Eugowra local, Mavis Cross, as he appealed for people to open their wallets.

Mavis, who has lived in Eugowra for 65 years, is lucky to be alive today.

“It was scary,” Mavis said, recalling her terrifying ordeal. “I was hanging on to the back gate. it was up to my armpits in seconds… and I was screaming ‘help me’ and the neighbour came from the other corner and said, ‘I've got you Mavis’.”

Other neighbours came to Mavis’ aid and it took four men to fight the current and get her to safety.

“It comes back to me. I can hear the noise, the water hitting the tin fences.. it just ripped them out of the ground! Unbelievable!”

At one point, a home that had been washed off its piers was floating towards Mavis and her rescuers and was only halted by a tree in its path.

Mavis is now back living in her home, but she is among the lucky ones in Eugowra.

“The town… there's a lot to do and people's homes, around me three or four are gone!” Mavis said.

But the support that continues to be shown to the Eugowra community is truly heartwarming, she said.

“It is amazing, I can't believe it. people have been so generous and it comes from everywhere.”