A LOXTON resident is using this year’s Mardi Gras to raise money and awareness for a new precinct, celebrating the history of the town and surrounding localities.
Ray Edwards is participating in the Mardi Gras as a senior ambassador for the third consecutive year, raising funds and promoting the Mill Corner Historical Precinct.
Mr Edwards said he enjoyed being involved with the Mardi Gras over the years and thought it was a great event for the district.
“In the past, as a fundraising event for the community, it’s been a great support,” he said.
“I think in recent times the funds raised have not been great as in the past, but there’s still a lot of money raised and a lot of promotion for the district and I think it is a great support for the town.”
Mr Edwards said his main source of fundraising so far was through local bingo nights.
“I’ve had amazing support with that, and there’s been personal donations that have come in that have varied from $10 to $100,” he said.
Mr Edwards’ fundraising for the site in previous years helped fund a memorial, installed last year, remembering four RAAF airmen who died after crashing in a paddock near Noora in 1943.
He said his goal this year was to help turn Mill Corner into a “true historical precinct”.
“I’ve been quite pleased actually with the progress that’s been made with Mill Corner,” Mr Edwards said.
“We are hoping to promote and display our history here with some plaques along a historical walk that we have planned.
“The plaques will record things like the town’s first post office, the first hospital, and the soldiers’ settlement, and other districts like Wunkar, Nadda and more.
“Some of these things took place in the early 1900s and it would be good to have them all recorded individually and prominently.”