New car goes to a good home in Windang

Embargoed until 10 am Friday February 15, 2013

New car goes to a good home in Windang

When Margaret Shannon from Windang NSW answered the phone one evening last November she agreed to purchase some raffle tickets for another good cause.  In this case the NSW SES Volunteers Association.

Over the Christmas season that donation became just another distant memory with family and presents to think about.  Imagine her surprise when she got another call some months later to say she had actually won first prize. A new Toyota Yaris.

Today that new car was hand delivered by the NSW SES Commissioner himself, Mr Murray Kear. Also on hand at the Illawarra Regions SES HQ in Coniston was the President of the NSW SES Volunteer Association Mr Charlie Moir. 

According to Commissioner Kear, putting someone in the drivers’ seat is a rare pleasure compared to the dramas of recent weeks.  SES volunteers are normally in the news pulling people out of their damaged or flood marooned vehicles. 

The NSW SES Volunteer Association was formed to support the thousands of SES Volunteers who give up so much of their time for the NSW Community said Charlie Moir.  The money raised by the regular raffles and other donations is used to fund extra resources for the SES units around NSW.  Each year the Association also provides educational scholarships to SES Volunteers and cadets so that they can improve their knowledge and skills for the betterment of the SES and also make a stronger contribution in the community.  A Volunteer welfare fund is another initiative to support Volunteers and their families.

We have around 10 raffles each year and tickets are sold over the phone by a professional Call Centre team. Soon tickets will also be available online. The major prize is valued over $20,000 and winners get a choice of prizes.  The Toyota Yaris is the most popular choice.

Margaret’s first road trip in the Yaris is not yet planned.  In the meantime her family are already lining up for a test drive.

If you wish to purchase a ticket in the next raffle or make a donation to the NSW SES Volunteers Association you can call 1300 707 344.

ENDS