FAQs

Eligibility criteria

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The event is open to anyone over the age of 18. You will participate as a team of four, so round up some workmates and sign up for a great event! It will be a fun, physical day involving some lifting and manual handling. Please read the Terms & Conditions and consider if this is the right event for you before registering.

How do I register a team?

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A member of your organisation (it doesn’t need to be one of the apple pickers, but it can be) must register for Fruit Loop, on behalf of the organisation and team.
The team contact will create a team page and then share a link to the team members to join the team and create their individual fundraising pages.

What’s included in the team fee?

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Your team fee of $4,000 + GST will help Foodbank Victoria source and distribute healthy food for Victorians in need. Team fees also go towards costs to run the event, and include the following for Participants:

  • Morning tea, lunch, and snacks throughout the day.
  • celebration dinner at Stella’s Kitchen at The Orchard at Montague.
  • One night accommodation (twin share, including breakfast) at Hyatt Place, 38 Dalmore Drive, Scoreseby, on the evening of Friday, 1 March, 2024. (Please note: mini-bar, room service, or other incidentals will be the responsibility of the participant. The participant will be required to provide credit card details for any incidentals at check-in.)
  • Bus transfers between the orchard and accommodation in the evening.
  • Access to our dedicated fundraising platform, including your team and individual profiles and fundraising progress.

Tell me more about individual fundraising.

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In the lead up to the event, team members will help raise much-needed funds for Foodbank Victoria by seeking sponsorship from friends and colleagues. For every $1 donated, that’s TWO meals created, so your individual fundraising target of $1,000 will help us source 2,000 meals for people doing it tough. Organisations will be required to make a tax-deductible donation to make up any shortfall in fundraising goals.

What happens to the funds raised?

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All funds raised by individuals and teams will go directly to the purchase of healthy and nutritious food for people doing it tough. Every $1 donated is TWO meals created, so every dollar will help make a huge impact!

How do we get to and from the event?

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All participants will be required to make their own transport arrangements to the Orchard At Montague on the morning of the event, arriving no later than 8am.

The Orchard at Montague

10-18 Horswood Road, Narre Warren

The Orchard at Montague is approx. 40km / 45-minute drive from the CBD.   

Ample parking is available on-site at The Orchard at Montague, and at the Hyatt Place Carribean Park.

Transport will be provided between the orchard and the Hyatt Place in the evening.

All participants will be required to make their own transport arrangements home at the conclusion of the event.

What time does the event start and finish?

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Teams should arrive at The Orchard at Montague no later than 8am on Friday, 1 March, 2024. Picking will conclude mid to late afternoon. Participants will have the opportunity to freshen up (either on-site at The Orchard at Montague, or at the Hyatt Place Caribbean Park).

A Celebration Dinner will be held at Stella’s Kitchen at The Orchard at Montague in the evening, before participants are transported back to the Hyatt Place Caribbean Park for a well-earned rest.

Participants can depart from the Hyatt Place Caribbean Park at their own leisure on the Saturday morning.

What do I need to bring and wear?

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Participants should be prepared for a fun, active day picking apples, followed by a delicious celebration meal in the evening.

For the day:

Participants must wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes - we recommend work boots with good ankle support, suitable for uneven ground.

We recommend wearing loose comfortable clothes suitable for lots of bending and movement.  Please bring your own hat, sunscreen, water bottle, and rain jacket. Hi-vis vests will be provided on the day.

For the afternoon/evening:

You will have an opportunity to freshen up and change before the Celebration Dinner.  Smart casual attire is perfect for the evening.

And don’t forget toiletries, PJs and anything else you might need for your overnight stay.

The Orchard at Montague is a smoke/vape-free venue.

What if I’m unwell on the day?

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It goes without saying these days, but please do not attend if you are feeling unwell. Please contact one of our team as soon as possible to let us know.

Can we swap out team members at any time?

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Yes, we understand circumstances change. You can update your team member details via your team page. New team members will need to review and accept the Terms of Entry.

If you need to swap out a team member in the week leading up to the event, please contact us directly to make the change.

What happens to the apples picked on the day?

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All the apples picked on the day will go to Foodbank Victoria, for distribution to our network of 500 charities across the state.

Will the event go ahead if the weather is inclement?

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Fruit Loop is an all-weather outdoor event. We hope Mother Nature will be smiling on us on the day, but the event will go ahead even if there is rain forecast. Please make sure you dress appropriately to meet the conditions on the day.

The event may be delayed or postponed if there is severe inclement or dangerous weather conditions. We will notify all participants and team contacts of any changes as soon as possible of any changes.

How else can we help Foodbank?

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Visit Foodbank Victoria’s website to find out other ways you can donate, volunteer and support.