Marrying the president of a football club and the captain of a cricket team requires exact planning and impeccable timing, so Molly Breen had enough on her mind as she was planning her marriage to Jason Leocata.
Molly and Jason were due to be married at Perricoota Station — located 23km from Moama on the banks of the bulging Murray River — on Saturday, November 5, but the catastrophic flood event that hit the region meant plans needed to be changed — to put it lightly.
With the venue not accessible because of floodwaters, finding an alternative venue for 200 people was the priority.
Jason, only three days before his wedding, sat at the head table of the Stanhope Football Netball Club’s annual general meeting, accepting for the second successive season the role as president of the Lions.
He coolly took on the top job again amid the crisis of having his wedding plans thrown into chaos.
Jason is also captain of the Kyabram Redbacks’ B-grade cricket team, which started its season on November 12 at the Kyabram Recreation Resreve.
Molly had every right to stress on the eve of her wedding to Jason, but with mother Jo (a former Kyabram Free Press journalist and Shepparton News editor) on her right shoulder — and in her corner — there was significant perspective on offer.
Jo said the families kept reminding themselves of how lucky they really were, feeling a little “indulgent” to be worried about a wedding ceremony when people were losing homes and businesses in the floods.
“Our hearts go out to Perricoota Station and the Packing Shed, as well as those homes and businesses that were flooded,” Jo said.
Molly and Jason’s wedding was not the only event impacted, a wedding had been cancelled on the Friday and others were booked for following days and weeks.
However, Molly and Jason’s wedding went ahead, but not before a marathon organisational effort and the assistance of not only the venue, Rich River Golf Club’s Tatalia Room, but all the other contributors to the special day.
“Matt Jean, a former Ky boy, and his staff were just incredible — they went out of their way to replicate Molly and Jason’s plans as much as possible, and were so accommodating and professional,” Jo said.
Additionally, some guests were relocated from the motel they were originally booked in, which had become the base for evacuation and emergency service personnel.
Working the phones feverishly the mother of the bride and her team eventually found accommodation for everyone, with guests flying into the area from throughout Australia and one relative flying home from Europe.
Last-minute Airbnb bookings in Echuca gave the bridal party somewhere to stay, and within 24 hours of booking Rich River, Matt Jean and his team had drinks, menu, new table settings and a beautiful spot by the lake for the ceremony sorted for the couple.
“Molly and Jason had booked as many Kyabram vendors as possible — and each and every single one was outstanding,” Jo said.
Aspire Boutique (hair), Grace Sartori (make-up) and Fab Flowers played a part, while photographer LovebyShae, and videographer Allure Productions, along with band “Like This” fell in line with the new plans.
“Ultimately, we knew as long as we were all together with family and friends, we would make it work. The weather Gods shined on us too — the sun was out, mid 20s and a small breeze took care of the mozzies as well,” the proud mother of the bride explained.