General News
3 August, 2023
Alpaca attends schools
hH's guest-starred on Bondi Rescue, The Project and Sunrise, traded surly glances with the hosts of the Kyle and Jackie O Show, and even ventured into the ACT Court of Law, but until last week Hephner the Alpaca had one gigantic hole in his CV: he...
hH's guest-starred on Bondi Rescue, The Project and Sunrise, traded surly glances with the hosts of the Kyle and Jackie O Show, and even ventured into the ACT Court of Law, but until last week Hephner the Alpaca had one gigantic hole in his CV: he hadn't experienced the Wimmera.
Heph was able to finally tick this part of Victoria off his bucket list when a statewide roadtrip brought him through the region in support of Lifeline.
Like any celebrity on tour, Heph had a jam-packed schedule, squeezing in appearances at various spots including St Peter's Lutheran School, Dimboola Primary School, Wimmera Bakery and a couple of TV-famous locations: The Stick Shed at Murtoa (featured on a recent episode of MasterChef Australia) and Minyip (aka Coopers Crossing on The Flying Doctors way back in the mid-1980s).
Heph was officially on his way to Stawell Aged Care but "stopped by all the towns and kept getting delayed".
He even made an impromptu visit to Wimmera Mallee News, dropping in to the Warracknabeal Herald office to catch up on the breaking stories of the day.
Hephner's visits are bringing a combination of cheer and cuddles to schools, kindergartens and nursing homes as he criss-crosses Victoria.
Owned by Robert Fletcher of Fletchers Ark Farmyard and Fletchers Ark Alpacas at Pomeroy near Goulburn, NSW, the blond bombshell was an instant hit with Wimmera residents of all ages, quickly popping up in countless Facebook and Instagram posts.
His social media stats are impressive for an alpaca: more than 4000 followers on Insta and 2600 on Facebook.
Heph's roadtrip began on July 17 and is in memory of a friend, "Chicken", who died by suicide in 2017.
As he travels, he and his human entourage are raising awareness of the Lifeline service and appealing for $5000 in financial support.
By the start of this week, the Hephner team was almost to the halfway mark of its goal, with just over $2600 still to be found.
Donations in aid of Lifeline can be made online at fundraise.lifeline.org.au/fundraisers/robertfletcher