Gold Coast Titan Kevin Proctor said emergency service workers, rural firefighters and volunteers “deserve a gold medal” for their efforts in battling the devastating bushfires that have affected the greater Gold Coast and Scenic Rim communities.
Proctor and fellow senior Titans player Shannon Boyd visited Canungra where the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, the Queensland Rural Fire Brigade and the State Emergency Service have set up an operations base to fight the bushfires in the Gold Coast Hinterland and surrounding areas.
Proctor, Boyd and Titans staff members met with firefighters and volunteers who have been battling the blazes, and delivered donations of water, food and clothing to go to members of the community who have lost property during the fires.
The Titans were able to pass on well-received donations for the community from the Club’s supporters, including meat and bread for the community barbeque from IGA Spanos, cartons of water from Coca-Cola Australia, clothing and merchandise from LIVIN and 250 muffins for the students at Canungra State School from Little Miss Muffin.
Proctor said he was in awe of the community spirit being shown by the volunteers and emergency services staff, some of whom had been fighting the fires for 12 days straight.
“It is awesome to see you know,” Proctor said.
“These guys look knackered. We have just come here to try to pick up their spirits as much as we can, and do our part for the community.
“But these guys deserve a gold medal. They have been going to 12 days straight. It is unreal to see.
“It is good to see the community getting behind it. I know some families have lost their homes, and some families are putting up guys who have lost their homes.
“It is really god to see the community getting behind each other, and we’re just trying to do as much as we can.”
Boyd, a resident of the nearby rural suburb of Guanaba, said the devastation of the bushfires was a little too close to home.
“We have had a bit of a burn hat has been at the back of our hill, which was only about 2km away, so it was nice and close,” Boyd said.
“There has been plenty of fire trucks going about here, there and everywhere. It has been a hard time for them.
“We have been talking to a few people today, and they have been at it for 12 days straight. It just goes to show how much effort they are all putting in and trying to help each other out.
“There are a lot of sad faces, but they are doing the best they can to try to get their spirits up around here, and that is good to see.”
If you would like to assist the community by donating to the bushfire relief, please contact these organisations:
