THREE community-minded businesses pitched in last week to donate machinery, supplies and manpower to the local SES.
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The SES are no strangers to floodwaters, but this time they needed a helping hand.
When the call for help went out from Councillor Sharon Griffiths, Red Shed Hire, Midcoast Irrigation and Horticulture and Hastings Valley Landscapes jumped at the chance to give back to the dedicated volunteers.
The project to install a new drainage system at the back of their Cameron Street headquarters will prevent water damaging expensive life-saving equipment housed on a regularly water-logged concrete slab.
Deputy controller Gerry DeVries said the work the team of helpers achieved was "over and above what we could've dreamed of".
"We've had an issue with water flowing into the concrete slab for quite a while, so we'd like to thank them all for their help," he said.
Hastings Valley Landscape owner Mick Hollis said he was happy to donate soil and gravel because "the SES provide such a valuable service to our community".
Midcoast Irrigation and Horticulture owner Heather Cooper donated ag pipe and said she was "glad to help out the SES in support of everything they do".
Behind the controls of the excavator was Red Shed Hire's generous owner Toby OBrien, who not only offered an excavator and mini digger, but was happy to get his hands dirty.
"This is what the Wauchope community is all about - we help each other out," he said.
The Wauchope SES currently has 24 active members and recently recruited 16 new members. The team not only answer local calls, but supports units further afield and works closely with emergency services such as the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue.
Mr DeVries said they were always looking for new members and invited anyone interested to join their weekly meetings at 6.30pm on Wednesdays.
For more information phone 0429 117 621.