FIREFIGHTERS from the Pindimar/Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service brigade visited the local Galleries in the Gardens (GiG) to see the massive Mambo fundraising efforts underway by local artists.
The big Cat 1 and Cat 7 trucks were brought out to visit the Gallery at 2pm on Friday 9 January, invited by the GiG to view the gallery and the prizes on offer to benefit their efforts.
The winners will be drawn at the end of the month.
The Gallery on Marine Drive will be hosting an “Art Mart” on Saturday 17 January, 10am-3pm, to boost the raffle’s takings.
It’s the GiG’s first big event of 2026, with members’ artworks on display and available for purchase.
“It is an opportune weekend, just before Australia Day, and we hope the summer crowds who are still in town will drop in to help support our local firies through the raffle,” GiG President Anne Stuart told News Of The Area.
“We all admire, and are very reliant upon, the local RFS volunteers, especially considering the bushland close to houses in some parts around here.”
The big raffle’s first prize is a limited edition Reg Mombassa print called “Mixed Grill”; second prize is a Reg Mombassa autographed book; and third prize is a “Golden Sandals” video – all donated by Reg Mobassa’s studio after direct contact was made by GiG’s Ian Morphett.
“We had decided over two months ago to donate the proceeds of this raffle to the local RFS, well before the Nerong fires took off in December,” he said.
“It is part of the GiG’s Constitution to support local charities and volunteer groups.
“We have donated to WINC and MoW in the past.”
Just as soon as the firies had found parking for both big trucks on the busy holiday-period Marine Drive, a callout came for a fire spotted up Mungo Brush Road, near the Myall River Camp, causing the big Cat 1 with a full complement of volunteer firefighters to head out and across the Singing Bridge to check.
They were joined en route by a group from North Arm Cove Brigade.
The Cat 7 stayed behind with a couple of firefighters and a radio at the ready in case things got worse on the 30-plus-degree day with strong, gusty winds.
The fire call turned out to be remnants of the Nerong fires, which had raged back in early December, and have smouldered in untraversable terrain ever since.
Although the Bombah Point Ferry was operational, the fire trucks avoid using it.
So the NAC and PTG brigades hunted around the south side of the river, and Bulahdelah RFB hunted around the north.
A total fire ban was officially declared for Saturday 10 January “due to forecast hot, dry and windy conditions” in several surrounding areas, including Port Stephens, Dungog, and Upper Hunter.
The Mid Coast District was left off the list.
“Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest have been very lucky so far not to be hit, especially as we are sitting in the middle of one of the top three priority areas in the state,” PTG RFS Captain David Bright said.
Hazards Near Me, the one source of truth on fires, floods and other such events, displayed three fires in the immediate region, including near Bombah Point, Nabiac.
There were also more suspected deliberately lit fires in North Arm Cove, which had threatened Carrington, even on the cooler days just after New Years Day.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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