The Coleambally community has continued to rally around Steve and Penny Lothian after a fire destroyed their home last month.
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Steve and Penny Lothian were away when a fire engulfed their house recently. Their family has described “unbelievable” the community support in the wake of the fire.
Coleambally playgroup are just the latest group to do their bit.
Playgroup Coordinator Mel Shephard said the group saw how much the community had rallied and were inspired to chip in themselves.
“We asked Penny and Steve to come to playgroup so we could give them a little donation,” she said.
The group presented the Lothian family with a basket filled with basic household items and a few treats.
“We got together some cleaning products, household items and some treats like a bottle of wine and a little beer. Penny came long and had morning tea and we presented them with our little donation,” she said.
“Everyone in Coly, whether you’re a company, an individual or an organisation is chipping in and doing something to help. We wanted to show them a little bit of that community spirit we know Coly has,” she said.
She said the support was also a testament to how much the couple had done for the community.
“We also wanted to show Penny we treasure teachers like her in our community … if she hasn’t taught siblings of the children she’ll probably teach them,” she said.
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“We want great teachers like her in our community.”
How community members can help out:
The community has come together to support the Lothian family in a number of ways.
Donations may be made through the Facebook group Lothians donations by posting on the group’s wall or via the GoFundMe page.
The online campaign has already raised over $4000 for the family and messages of support have flooded in. Recent weeks have seen a a flood of well-wishes for the family, both online and in person.
The family moved to Coleambally from the big smoke a few years ago. Penny and Steve’s son, Rob Lothian says this kind of response in the city would be almost unheard of.
“My parents moved to Coleambally from Sydney a few years ago and this kind of thing just doesn’t happen there,” he said.
“You couldn’t really compare the responses you’d get. Coly is just that type of town and that type of community.”
He says the philosophy of country towns is simple.
“They help each other.”