A HELPING hand has been extended to Tamworth from right across the continent.
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The Tamworth Men’s Shed recently received a $2000 donation its brother organisation in Dunsborough, in south-western WA.
The cross-continental charity cheque was committed to Tamworth on the condition it would go directly towards drought relief in the region and not through a “secondary distributor”.
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Tamworth Men’s Shed secretary Phil McFarlane said it was the first donation, in memory, like this from one town to another seemingly random one across the country.
The group handed over the donation to the Country Women’s Association to dish out to people in need.
Mr McFarlane said the group might consider paying it forward with a fundraiser in the future.
President of the Dunsborough shed, Richard Bailey, said his group chose Tamworth to receive its donation because the region seemed to be “at the centre of the drought.”
His region had just experienced the “wettest winter ever”, but news of the east coast drought had resonated with a number of members who are ex-farmers.
“We just felt like we needed to do something,” Mr Bailey said. “It’s on the news everyday and there’s always a report of someone in dire straits.”
According to the Department of Primary Industries, the vast majority of the Tamworth Regional Council area is in “intense drought”.