General News
19 May, 2026
Biggest Morning Tea returns to Plaistow
The peaceful and expansive gardens of Plaistow Homestead will be open again this Saturday for the return of Peter and Lilian Skilbeck’s popular Biggest Morning Tea.
After nearly 30 years of the much loved fundrasier, Mr Skilbeck still has members of the community approach him in public and ask him when they can support their cause again.
“I was in Coles the other week and a lady stopped me and asked ‘when are you doing it again?’ ... we got to the stage where people asked us on the Saturday morning ‘well, what date next year?, can we come next year?’, people actually ask us that,” he said.
The community is welcomed back to the gardens surrounding their heritage listed 1840s home this weekend to raise money for Cancer Council, a cause close to everyone.
Funds donated to Cancer Council’s support research, fund nurses on call, wig banks and respite holidays.
This year’s event is expected to draw attendees from as far as Melbourne, Euroa and Mordialloc, with the Skilbecks even receiving a donation from friends in Hong Kong.
“We have a friend that was sent home from hospital about 10 days ago, he has had weeks to live. But his aim at the moment is to get to the Biggest Morning Tea, so that will be emotional,” Mr Skilbeck said.
This weekend will see a return of the popular raffles and stalls, with a variety of plants and knitted goods available throughout the morning.
“We have a lot of people stand around and wait for the raffle to be drawn which is always intriguing,” Mr Skilbeck said.
This year, the couple are proud to see four generations of the Skilbeck family working over the morning, with their son maintaining the fires, their grand daughters assisting with catering and their seven month old great grand daughter to oversee the event.
“We don’t always get to enjoy the company of the people that are coming, it would take all day for us to say hello to everyone,” Mr Skilbeck said.
The couple are also pleased their much loved Andrews double stove oven has been full restored, which will greatly assist with the many scones (both sweet and savoury), tea and coffees that will be provided on the day.
Mrs Skilbeck said the family is always grateful for the help of volunteers in manning the gate, washing dishes, serving the food, selling raffle tickets or looking after parking.
“We have volunteers that just stand at the sink washing or buttering ... we even thank our volunteers with soups at the end of it,” she said.
Plaistow Homestead’s Biggest Morning Tea event will take place at 324 Rodborough Road, Joyces Creek on Saturday, May 23 from 10 am until 12.30 pm.
Parking is available in the front paddock, those unable to walk the house are advised to tell the person supervising parking.
Entry is by donation at the garden gate.