By JESSE GRAHAM
HUNDREDS of gnomes flocked to Upwey on the weekend for a second scrape at bringing a world record to the hills, as part of a No Macca’s-inspired event.
The No McDonald’s in the Dandenong Ranges’ Gnomeageddon 2015 on Sunday 19 April was the second attempt by the group to break the world record for most people dressed as garden gnomes in the one place.
With a target of 479 gnomes needed to break the record, the group fell short of their goal, amassing about 400 gnomes at the Upwey Community Hall by 2pm for the record count.
Last year saw 446 gnomes at the 2014 attempt, and No McDonald’s spokesperson Garry Muratore told the Mail he believed the poor numbers was due to rainy and cold weather through the morning.
Mr Muratore told the Mail that the group wasn’t put out by the failure, but that the event doubled as a community fund-raiser.
“We raised quite a lot of money through market stalls, photobooths, silent auctions and raffles,” he said.
“In terms of an event, we feel it was quite successful.”
Mr Murratore said that last year’s fund-raising went to the CFA, but this year’s monies raised would go to a family in the community “requiring some help”, and that a final count of the funds was yet to take place.
The current world record is 478 gnomes.
For the full story, visit mail.starcommunity.com.au.
