THE Wednesday Morning Craft Group held an extra-special Biggest Morning Tea at Hawks Nest Community Hall on Wednesday, 21 May, bestowing donations upon several life-saving and supportive local volunteer groups.
In the ladies’ annual donation to local charities, they spotlighted the Pindimar-Tea Gardens Rural Fire Brigade, Stroud State Emergency Service (SES), the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and the local Free Clinic Bus.
“All the money that we donate here at this Biggest Morning Tea event is raised at our two big fundraisers throughout the year – the Mothers’ Day raffle and the Christmas raffles,” explained Wednesday Craft Group President Kris Whitely.
Stroud SES Deputy Commander Greg Snape, who has given many years to the service alongside his wife Sandy, said the funds would go “directly to the members, helping keep them properly equipped”.
“It will also help out the Stroud Men’s Shed, who fix up our flood boat prop that we use in promotional activities,” he said.
After 45 years among the community, Tea Gardens-Pindimar Rural Fire Service (RFS) Captain David Bright said he “still cannot get over the generosity of the local people”.
“We need fundraising to buy equipment beyond the bare essentials that volunteers are supplied with,” Captain Bright said.
Both the RFS and SES have since been involved in flood mitigation, rescue and/or clean-up operations in the wake of the past few weeks of heavy rains, with callouts of personnel and resources to flood-affected areas in Taree and surrounds.
Closer to home, the Free Clinic Bus team has continued its efforts, with representative Jan Peeters happily accepting the donation on the team’s behalf.
“This goes to show what the power of local communities can achieve,” Jan announced.
“The Free Clinic Bus moves 250 passengers per year, and will turn 40 years old this year too.”
The donation will also help the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to run its five helicopters, and that service will hit 50 years in November this year.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
