Margaret-Anne Hayes has done immeasurable service to the fire-affected people of the Bega Valley, but it's all in keeping with a remarkable woman dedicated to others.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Margaret-Anne turned 80 this year, but age isn't slowing her down - her first half-marathon at 68 and a skydive at 76 are among her exploits in raising close to $250,000 for cancer charity Can Too.
However, after hearing of the fires in Cobargo and surrounds, she did what came naturally and began facilitating truckloads of donations for the region - and we do mean truckloads.
June's arrival of a truck filled with winter clothing, blankets and household items was one of Margaret-Anne's instigation.
She wouldn't be drawn on a number, but a total contribution of donated items from her community in Turramurra in the order of $60-70,000 would not be overstating it.
"What my friends and I are doing is miniscule in terms of what people need," Margaret-Anne said rather humbly.
"I'm just a very ordinary person. All I do is facilitate it, putting calls out to friends."
Those calls to friends have helped contribute close to a quarter of a million dollars to Can Too, and in a separate drought fundraiser she was instrumental in around $100,000 heading from the "Women of the North Shore to the Women of the North West" she said.
She said her efforts stem from "an over abundance of social conscience".
"I live in a nice house in Turramurra filled with beauty. So every time I see homes burnt and people who have lost everything the grief is so raw.
"I was going to organise a fundraiser but realised there's always lots of spare stuff in people's homes.
"I started emailing friends and people just started sending things. There was an SUV trailer packed to the gunnels and Dani's [Danielle Murphy from the Cobargo Bushfire Relief Centre] husband came up to collect a ginormous truck with container.
READ ALSO: Helping became Bec's own form of healing
"We heard of someone who had turned his shed into a one-bedroom place just for shelter but it was freezing, so we got him a reverse-cycle air conditioner.
"I've still got lots of things like tools, a barbecue, children's clothes - people have sent beautiful things."
Not only has Margaret-Anne continued to source donations for Cobargo and region, she also has plans to gather a whole lot more in time for Christmas. And while it may still be practical items like chairs and tables it will also be "pretty stuff like soaps and clothes" she said.
"If people don't even have a home, or money for coffee, they aren't going out to buy presents," she said.
"I know you're grieving as I know what grief is. But don't for a second think you're forgotten. You're not out of our minds.
"It's not just me, everyone is very conscious [of what is happening there]."