The chilly winter wind was no match for the overwhelming warmth of a community’s random act of kindness earlier this week (July 19).
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Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club general manager, Terry Green sent the message out inviting members of the community to take part in this year’s Do Something! Day.
More than 20 local volunteers, including staff and members from the Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club Forster police officers, Tuncurry Youth Centre Boxing Group, Forster-Tuncurry Hawks rugby league club players and parishioners from Pastor Daryll Moran’s Lakeside Church rallied to the call.
Despite the blustery conditions, the volunteers were more than happy to roll up their sleeves and undertake blitz-type tidy up of 85-year-old Roly Kinnear’s Forster backyard, vowing not to stop working until the good deed was done.
During the day-long backyard blitz volunteers sawed, cut, repaired, cleaned and painted, Roly’s backyard turning it into a low maintenance attractive space.
At the same time members of the Lakeside Church moved into Roly’s house, giving it a much appreciated spring clean.
In early June Roly’s 84-year-old wife – they married in 1953 – Aileen died.
As the liaison officer for the Forster-Tuncurry RSL sub-branch to the 28th army cadet unit in Taree, Roly is well known and adored beyond the Great Lakes.
At just 14-years Roly began an apprenticeship as a ship builder at Cockatoo Docks and engineering Company at Cockatook Island.
When he turned 18 Roly joined the Citizens Military Forces (now known as Army Reserves), stationed at 3 Anti-Tank Regiment at Belmore.
After completing his apprenticeship Roly underwent volunteer training for two years at Ingleburn before being travelling to Japan in 1952 for final training.
On April 3, 1952, Roly joined the war effort in Korea where he completed 267 days of service; until March 24, 1953.
Roly said he was overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity extended to him by members of the community.
Terry Green described Roly as a generous member of the community; someone who had done much for Australia.
“Carrying out a random act of kindness feels so good, especially when it is for someone who is as special as Roly Kinnear,” Terry said.
“We’ve had so much support from our staff, members and friends, once again showing how tight knit our community really is.”
The volunteers have vowed that they
won’t stop working until this good deed is done.