Eleven well-known local identities were sent behind bars yesterday – but it was all for a good cause.
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Mudgee businesspeople were voluntarily doing “Time4Kids” to raise money for the Mudgee PCYC.
Adam Woods of The Professionals, Shane McDermott of Brindleys, Pat Pilley of A1 Earthworx, Ian Simpson of Smartline, winemaker Jacob Stein, 2MG announcer Craig Bassett, solicitor Richard Wise, Dean Sebelic of Advanced Automated Services, Mudgee High School teacher Steve Fitzgerald, publican Rodney Kelly, James Sheppard of Ross Granata Motors, and Kim Harding of Solar Pumping Solutions, were rounded up by Senior Constable Brett Paulson and shepherded into cell in Market Street after a “sentence” was proclaimed by Judge Peter Mitchell.
Their only chance of release was to appeal to friends and colleagues to raise the $1000 bail, with proceeds going to the PCYC.
While winemaker Jacob Stein used his industry contacts to make a quick escape and Richard Wise used his legal knowledge to gain an early release, Craig Bassett initially looked like serving a long sentence after his live-to-air appeal for assistance fell on deaf ears.
Craig’s task was made even more difficult when his bail was increased to $1500 after he talked back to the “judge”.
Mudgee PCYC manager Railene Doherty said organisers were very impressed by the community support for “Time4Kids”, a major fundraiser for the Mudgee PCYC.
“We hesitated to run it again this year as it has been run for so many years and we were struggling to find participants who had not already done their time,’ Mrs Doherty said. “But with the 11 participants, they went above and beyond our expectations. They were all happy to support a worthy cause.”
Mrs Doherty said money raised would help to buy desperately needed equipment for the PCYC.