More than $110,000 was raised to bring a mobile medical van to towns without doctors at a recent truck show.

The 28th Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show started on Saturday, June 7, with the sponsor dinner seeing 120 attendees enjoy the night. The main event was the next day.

“We announced that night that our money this year, from our foundation and our mental health foundation, will be going towards the purchase of a mobile medical clinic for the Yea and District Memorial Hospital,” event organiser Andrew Embling said.

“So our aim was to raise $100,000 at the dinner and the truck show, and we announced it that night, and we raised $52,000 that night.”

The event was filled with generous people trying to make a difference.

One such story was a man from Brisbane who bought a box of Yarra Valley Shortbread for $900 only to give it back to Mr Embling to auction off again the next day.

Another is of the Gordon family, who has been donating handmade chopping boards for 19 years.

Ten days before this year’s event, Mr Gordon’s wife died, however he still came to the event, raising $12,000 for the fundraiser from the 20 boards he brought.

From the 12,000 people who attended the weekend — the dinner on Saturday, and the truck show and auction on Sunday — the fundraiser sits at $114,000, all of which was raised in under 24 hours.

The biggest sale from the auction was a VIP package to Brisbane, flights included, at five-star accommodation, for four nights for four people, which sold for $6500.

“The van will be bought,” Mr Embling said.

“We had a great, great response.”

The van will not only service Yea, but will also be used to provide medical care to Eildon, which has no doctor, and Alexandra.

Yea and District Hospital chief executive officer Elizabeth Sinclair said the hospital was pleased with the van and has plans for its use.

“We’re genuinely excited about the positive impact it will have on the health and wellbeing of people across Murrindindi Shire,” Ms Sinclair said.

“The mobile health van will be used to deliver place-based health clinics, making health care more accessible for residents across Murrindindi Shire.

“We plan to offer clinics focused on diabetes education, mental health support, cardiac health, skin checks, cancer screening, and hearing and vision assessments.

“The van will also attend community gatherings and events to promote healthy living.”

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Friday, 16th May 2025

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