The was the kind of phone call no family member wants to receive, and it was a call that has sparked a fundraiser of support which has galvanised the district in an eyeblink.

Koloona’s Tammy Taylor had the call from her relation Sarah Taylor about her son Logan, who had been running about like any little buy, but complained of a few headaches. Tammy is Logan’s early childhood educator, as well as a family member, and the news shook her and the Taylor family. 

The little boy, who had turned four on December 12 was in crisis, with his parents Sarah and Rob Taylor by his side. “They flew up to John Hunter for fluid on the brain,” Tammy said. “And when they did the surgery, that’s when they found out he had a tumour.”

Sarah said Logan has a cancer called Medulloblastoma. “Logan started chemo last Friday. He will have it for two months before they do a MRI to see if it's working and then finalise his treatment plan,” she said in an email from Newcastle. “He is definitely a very brave and strong little boy. Despite his three major surgeries he still manages to give us a smile.”

The first of his surgeries removed a tumour the size of a small mandarin. Doctors operated again, after Logan contracted bacterial meningitis, to repair his wound and put in an external ventricular drain to help with the excess spinal fluid. A third surgery removed the drain and put a shunt in place.

Tammy said in the face of Logan’s battle, she felt compelled to do something help. “I just said John, ‘I want to do something’, because I’ve been looking after Logan since he was six months old. And John said, ‘We’ll ask the club’, and they had a meeting, and they said, ‘Go for it’.

Planning was underway in short order for an event, on February 25 at the Delungra Bowling Club. Tammy’s neighbour Rod Kent joined in the effort, and has helped spread the word. The donations to auction and monster raffle for the event, coming from all across the region, have overwhelmed Rod and Tammy, despite both sharing the knowledge country people will come together in an emergency, especially when it comes to a child. 

Businesses have given brand-new equipment, like welders and large chainsaws, loads of gravel, and piles of items, paintings, new toys, and many cash contributions ahead of the event. The event for Logan Taylor is at the Delungra Bowling Club on Saturday, February 25 from 4pm. There will be barefoot bowls, and a barbecue, jumping castle and more family fun.

Updates and more information on the club Facebook page: Delungra Memorial Bowling and Recreation Club.