It was a mammoth effort by everyone involved, but the end result was well worth it said Noela Sikora, who has managed the event for years.

On Sunday more volunteers then delivered the Christmas hampers, which were filled with treats for Christmas to the isolated, elderly and families who are doing it tough, to make their Christmas this year a little brighter.

Cr Bobby Bourke said it was an amazing effort by everyone involved.

“When everyone chucks in and does a bit, it makes a big difference,” he said.

Cr Bourke said the hampers were filled with a range of non-perishable Christmas goods, to ensure everyone who received one had an enjoyable Christmas Day.

“They’re filled with Mars chocolates, Edgell’s products, a Christmas cake, tinned ham and school products,” he said.

Cr Bourke said while Mars and Edgell’s donated items for the appeal, the remaining items were purchased at a cost of about $35,000, with money raised through the year from various activities including a golf day, trivia nights and other events.

He said the hampers were distributed on Sunday to families doing it tough, people living alone and the elderly, and said every year more and more people were putting their name down for a hamper.

“For a lot of families, it means food on the table on Christmas Day,” he said.

“I’ve been doing it for 26 years and Noela (Sikora) has been doing it for 30 and it’s getting bigger every year.

“Ron Camplin started it in Mudgee 59 years ago [where eight hampers were delivered] and its grown every year since then.

“My first year I think wen did 300 hampers, and this year we did 1200.”

Cr Bourke congratulated Noela and everyone involved in bringing the hampers together.

He said the hampers were not only delivered as far out as Rockley, Wattle Flat, Hill End, Blayney, Sofala and Daffodil Cottage.