Rochester Salvation Army were the recipients of this years Red Knights Christmas Toy Drive. Photo: Supplied.
Despite the wet conditions, the Red Knights Motorcycle Club went ahead with their toy drive on Saturday, November 30.
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The toy drive was created to help spread Christmas cheer to Rochester families still doing it tough after the 2022 floods.
The Red Knights raised around $6000 in cash and collected $2000 worth of toys during the drive.
On top of the donations, the club also put together $2000 worth of food parcels to be distributed to families who need a helping hand this Christmas.
The Red Knights made food packages worth $2000. Photo: Supplied.
All donations were presented to the Rochester Salvation Army at the end of the ride who will distribute them to families in need.
The club’s Chapter 14 president Colin Consiglio said the Rochy Salvos were grateful for the contributions.
“[The Rochy Salvo’s] are fantastic, they were very, very appreciative of it all,” he said.
“We gave food parcels and a heap of presents, and they were more than happy with that, and we were more than happy to help them.”
The riders rode through heavy rains. Photo: Supplied.
Before the bikers set out, they hosted a community breakfast at 8.30am at the Star Hotel in Echuca.
The breakfast was attended by Mayor Daniel Mackrell as well as members of Southern Warrior MC from Melbourne and community members.
The Southern Warriors from Melbourne performed a Smoking Ceremony. Photo: Supplied.
The Southern Warrior MC, a First Nations motorcycle club, performed a Smoking Ceremony before gifting the Red Knights a traditional Message Stick, a symbol of camaraderie between the groups.
Around 20 bikers took part in the drive which began in Echuca, stopped in Kyabram and Rushworth before finishing up in Rochester.
Members of both the Southern Warriors and Red Knights attended the community breakfast. Photo: Supplied.
The bikers were well-supported on their drive at each stop with Ky Club providing a morning tea, Rushworth Fire Brigade providing a lunch of sausage rolls and pies and finishing their drive at the Rochester Hotel.
After a successful first year, the Red Knights will continue to host the event annually.
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