THE generosity of the Hawks Nest/Tea Gardens community has once again been on show, with a bushfire appeal following the recent Sir Ivan Fire.

Hardest hit were the areas of Dunedoo, Coolah and Cassilis where the cost has been enormous.

The bushfires in February burnt out over 52,000 hectares of land, which is roughly twice the size of Newcastle.

The village of Uarbry was gutted, a total 35 homes were lost, more than 130 outer buildings including shearing sheds, machinery and hay sheds damaged and five thousand head of livestock perished.

It was such a fast moving bushfire, at one stage it was travelling six kilometres every seven minutes.

Pip Sullivan, a regular visitor to the Myall, got together with Hawks Nest Golf Club Manager Richard Simmer and the Tea Gardens Country Club to pass the yellow bucket around.

$1,500 was raised and local businesses also donated prizes for a raffle.

“The money and donations were much appreciated and it is mind blowing the help and support we’ve received,” Joy Beams, co-ordinator of Country Women’s Association Appeal said.

Eighty-five volunteers are still working in the area, replacing fencing and doing whatever they can to get the area back on its feet.

The CWA’S Joy Beams would like to thank the following businesses.

The Tea Gardens Country Club, Tea Gardens Hotel Motel, Lazy Paddles Guided Tours and Kayak hire, Hawks Nest Golf Club, The Hawks Nest Veterans Golfers, Cole Bros Oysters Karuah, Queens Kitchen, Tea Gardens Bowling Club, Tillermans Restaurant, The BoatShed, Mumm’s On the Myall, Tea Gardens Fish Co-Op and Hawks Nest Newsagency.

For further information regarding the bushfire appeal contact Pip Sullivan on 0418 479 761.

 

By Margie TIERNEY