When February's rainy weather drowned out building sites in NSW, many tradies would have gone home. Instead, one builder rallied his mates and employees and headed down to the South Coast to lend a helping hand in the bushfire clean-up. Carl Hinton, who owns Sydney construction company Urban Impact, organised the volunteers to deliver water tanks and drinking water to Mogo two weeks ago. He now hopes others will help purchase more, which he will deliver to Tinpot and Nerrigundah this Friday to Sunday, February 28-March 1. His volunteer team would also repair the Nerrigundah community hall with toilets, bathrooms and a kitchen so residents had somewhere to stay while they rebuilt their properties. Mr Hinton came up with the idea when he heard a Mogo resident's plea for a water tank. READ MORE: Nerrigundah man light in the dark as flames battered shed He sent out a message to see if anyone could help purchase one: "if you buy a 1000L water tank for $325, we will deliver it for free to a person in need at the weekend," the message read. Only 36 hours later, community members had sponsored 65 tanks and 65,000 litres of water that the team delivered that day. "I put the word out and it went off the scale," Mr Hinton said. "It was a phenomenal result and a testament to communities helping each other." He said a Nerrigundah resident had then contacted him, so he went out there: "we thought Mogo was bad," he said. "We came back and thought, 'What can we do now? They've got no power, they've (only) got a bit of drinking water." He said an Adelaide company had donated the bathrooms and Sydney volunteers would pay for their own fuel and accommodation. READ MORE: Man found dead at Nerrigundah after catastrophic bushfires They would try and spend as much money as they could on the South Coast. He said the initiative was born from frustration at the lack of funds - both government and charity-based, received in bush-fire affected areas. "There are families that still have not received any funds and are also not covered by insurance," he said. "In addition, there are areas that are still without power, sanitation and drinking water." Go to the "All in it together" Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/218677102603187/) for info and donations. READ MORE: Nerrigundah RFS captain wants safer equipment after fire ravages town It has been Australia's lost summer. Drought, hail, floods and, worst of all, bushfires have ravaged communities all over the nation. But the selfless actions of friends, family, neighbours, strangers, local groups and volunteer organisations have inspired us and strengthened the bonds of community. Please join us in saying thanks to the heroes of the home front by sharing your stories of gratitude. To salute a person or a group, please use the form below.
A Eurobodalla Shire resident grateful for the drinking water she will give to her family.
When February's rainy weather drowned out building sites in NSW, many tradies would have gone home. Instead, one builder rallied his mates and employees and headed down to the South Coast to lend a helping hand in the bushfire clean-up.
Carl Hinton, who owns Sydney construction company Urban Impact, organised the volunteers to deliver water tanks and drinking water to Mogo two weeks ago.
He now hopes others will help purchase more, which he will deliver to Tinpot and Nerrigundah this Friday to Sunday, February 28-March 1.
His volunteer team would also repair the Nerrigundah community hall with toilets, bathrooms and a kitchen so residents had somewhere to stay while they rebuilt their properties.
Mr Hinton came up with the idea when he heard a Mogo resident's plea for a water tank.
He sent out a message to see if anyone could help purchase one: "if you buy a 1000L water tank for $325, we will deliver it for free to a person in need at the weekend," the message read.
Only 36 hours later, community members had sponsored 65 tanks and 65,000 litres of water that the team delivered that day.
"I put the word out and it went off the scale," Mr Hinton said.
"It was a phenomenal result and a testament to communities helping each other."
He said a Nerrigundah resident had then contacted him, so he went out there: "we thought Mogo was bad," he said.
"We came back and thought, 'What can we do now? They've got no power, they've (only) got a bit of drinking water."
He said an Adelaide company had donated the bathrooms and Sydney volunteers would pay for their own fuel and accommodation.
It has been Australia's lost summer. Drought, hail, floods and, worst of all, bushfires have ravaged communities all over the nation. But the selfless actions of friends, family, neighbours, strangers, local groups and volunteer organisations have inspired us and strengthened the bonds of community. Please join us in saying thanks to the heroes of the home front by sharing your stories of gratitude. To salute a person or a group, please use the form below.
