A fire devastated family will have a little cheer put back in their lives on Wednesday when former Goulburn businessman Neville Burrows makes a special donation.
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Mr Burrows and wife, Pam, well known for their philanthropy, are donating their used car, a 2005 Mazda CX7, to a family at Batemans Bay.
The couple is leading by example. It's part of a wider push to enlist dealerships throughout NSW to donate a used vehicle to people who lost cars in the recent fires.
"If people don't have a car, they're marooned and can't get to work or organise approvals for new houses. Many vehicles were uninsured," Mr Burrows said.
"I think there's a desperate need out there and we feel deeply for these people."
Mr Burrows has a long history in Goulburn's motor trade, having run several dealerships over the years.
Over the past month the couple has been liaising with Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor, Liz Innes. She has selected a family to whom the Burrows' will hand over the car on Wednesday, February 19 at Batemans Bay. It is valued at $8000 to $9000.
Mr Burrows has also enlisted the Motor Trades Association's help to encourage dealerships to donate used cars to people who had lost vehicles in the blazes. He said it was supportive of the idea and intended issuing a call-out in its magazine. But he's also extending a personal challenge to the businesses.
"If it's a used car worth $2000 to $3000, they'd hardly miss it," he said.
Major vehicle transport company, Carways, has also come on board to pick up the vehicles from dealerships and distribute them free of charge to Sydney and Canberra depots.
As for who chooses the most needy recipients, Mr Burrows said this should be left up to mayors, the Red Cross or Salvation Army.
"We need to get the mayors on board," he said.
His only insistence is that the cars are roadworthy. Interested dealerships can contact him at nevillepamburrows@gmail.com.au with the vehicle's make, model, registration number, location and details on whether it is auto or manual.
The Burrows' are also continuing their support for the Hearts for Makamba Foundation in Burundi Province, central Africa. The not-for-profit organisation helps poor children, widows and families by providing free education and life skills.
The couple has donated $45,000 to the Foundation since about 2016, which has bought a school and funded construction of nine water wells in Makamba. The latter means that women and children don't have to walk long distances to collect heavy loads of water for drinking and cooking.
"It's a very depressed area and there's no need for people to be without water," Mr Burrows said.
"Once they had water, they learnt how to wash and could grow things."
READ MORE: Aid to Africa from Goulburn
Their support came after a chance meeting with the founder, Australian man Martin Shamuel, in a Kiama coffee shop several years ago. After explaining the Foundation's work, Mr Burrows said he had no hesitation in providing funding.
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
