HOPE rises from the ashes.
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The Tamworth Area Radio Model Aircraft Club was decimated by a suspected arson attack on Saturday morning – the shed reduced to charred debris and its invaluable vintage contents gone forever.
It would inevitably be a dark hour for anyone.
And it came just one month out from the club’s biggest flying day of the year.
But the spirit of the volunteers who keep the club in flight remains sky-high.
And it goes a long way to the outpouring of community support since the blaze hit the club.
The words of club president Larry Hoskins after the fire were as stoic as they come.
“If anyone had the idea that this would kill the club, they’re totally wrong,” he told The Leader.
And he wasn’t kidding.
The club is on its way to bouncing back stronger than ever.
Despite the shed having to be demolished, three water tanks lost and a whopping damage bill estimated to amount to $100,000, the club still plans on holding its annual event.
And the Tamworth community is helping that happen.
Words of support flooded social media, as locals paid tribute to the volunteers who call the club their home away from home.
Promises and offers to help rebuild helped lift spirits.
Donations have also rolled in, with the club welcoming a brand new barbecue thanks to a Good Samaritan this week.
It’s so much easier to condemn those who might have been responsible for the fire, than it is to find a positive.
It takes greater courage to see the silver lining than it does to point the finger of blame.
And that’s exactly what is so warming about this story – seeing the community pull together in a dark hour.
It speaks volumes of the good out there, which is all too often eclipsed by a minority of bad.
As police continue their investigations into the incident, the community is being called upon to donate or loan any items the club might find useful.
Let’s help the club – that has provided a hobby for so many locals over the years – rebuild bigger and better than ever.
To help out, contact Larry Hoskins on 0417 463 484.