Katherine's beloved Biggest Morning Tea run by local legend Bess Hart is set to return for its 12th year.
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The morning tea, which raises money for the Cancer Council, will be held on April 30 from 9am at Mrs Hart's property in Lansdowne.
Mrs Hart, who turns 80 this year, first started hosting the event for friends and family with her late husband Ted, who passed away in 2017.
She said she is not letting age or Ted's passing get in the way of what has become a local tradition.
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"People [at the morning tea] last year said 'this will be your last year won't it? It's getting a bit much.'"
"I said 'no, why should I stop?'"
"Just because Ted died, cancer doesn't stop."
Mrs Hart says she loves hosting the event, not just because of the cause, but because it's an opportunity for the community to get together.
"When we first heard about it we thought 'oh yes we've both got cancer in parts of the family'. We just thought 'oh well we'll have a cuppa and invite our family.' It sort of grew," she said.
"People come along and sit around the table and say 'g'day, haven't seen you for a while.' It's a good day.
"I've had a very happy, very good life and Katherine is a good town and I just thought 'I want to give something back.'"
The event, which features an auction for a range of items donated by local businesses, raises thousands of dollars for cancer-impacted people in the region each year.
Mrs Hart has already spent months fundraising and preparing.
"I've been making jams and marmalades, relish, mango chutney and kumquat jams and I'll put them out [for sale]," she said.
"People make cakes and bring cakes for sale, people can make a gold coin donation for a cup of tea and a couple of pieces of cake."
And, of course, Mrs Hart will be making her famous billy tea.
"I've got a barbecue and I'll make a wood fire and make the billy cans to make a billy tea - we have billy tea or billy coffee," she said.
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