THE community has rallied around Jim Finucane after his chairs were stolen from the Westdale Memorial Park.
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The 87-year-old, affectionately known as “Tamworth Jim”, left the plastic chairs at the park for the regular community events he organises, such has the upcoming Australia Day celebration.
Mr Finucane was distraught to discover his chairs had been stolen, but a Facebook post by his friend Bird Aitken led to an outpouring of support.
Pilliga Natural Timbers owner Daniel Clissold decided to donate some permanent chairs that can’t be stolen.
“We’ll get three or four logs that are 14 to 15 inches round, take the sides off them and sit them under the shade,” Pilliga Natural Timbers spokesman Greg Corbett said.
“They’ll be big enough that two people can’t pick them up and carry them away.”
Mr Finucane has been trying to get permanent seating in the park for years and was blown away by the “wonderful” offer.
Mac’s Event Hire also donate a marquee and 30 chairs for the Australia Day event after seeing the Facebook post, while more than a dozen chairs have been donated by residents to replace the ones that were stolen.
“I was amazed at the inquiries I got,” Mr Finucane said.
“Two other blokes are going to come help us on the day, there’s a country music artist travelling from Manilla, a lady entertainer from Attunga, there’s Michael The Living Poet coming from Mildura.”
Ms Aitken said someone had even offered to bring their barbecue to the Australia Day event.
“This is people power at it’s best – even though Jim was very distressed when the chairs got stolen, some good has come out of it,” she said.
The pair said if anyone had old plastic chairs they were willing to donate, they would be more than happy to accept them.
“We just need someone to donate a bike lock and a chain to lock the chairs up,” Ms Aitken said.