mmg.com.au

Echuca Hotel bartender Shayne Ross-Dixon has come in fourth in the state in the UGLY bartender competition, raising more than $5000 for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Mr Ross-Dixon said bar games were a successful fundraising tool for the event.

His games of choice were balancing a dollar coin on a lemon in a bowl of water or pulling out a $5 note from between two stubbies without making the top bottle fall.

‘‘For the punter, the odds weren’t that high,’’ he said.

Mr Ross-Dixon also promised to wear a pink maid’s outfit behind the bar for three hours if the fundraising reached $2500.

This was done with good grace, and for extra money Mr Ross-Dixon even shed his stubby shorts he was wearing underneath the outfit.

‘‘It was actually rather successful,’’ he said.

A first time UGLY bartender, Mr Ross-Dixon said he was keen to take part next year, though he would be better organised in the future.

‘‘It was a good experience, I was quite rapt when I did the final count,’’ he said.‘‘Thank you to everyone that supported it and helped us raise so much money.’’Leukaemia Foundation Victoria general manager Stephanie Hechenberger said across Australia participating bartenders together raised more than $1.16million.

She said this was equivalent to funding 14,536 nights of free accommodation to regional families during their treatment in the city.

‘‘Accommodation is one of the Leukaemia Foundation’s most important services. It relieves the pressure for regional families who are required to relocate closer to treatment, and helps to keep the family together at a time when they need each other more than ever,’’ she said.

UGLY stands for Understanding, Generous, Likeable You and the competition ran from August til November.