LOCAL woman Thea Batterham, with help from the Inverell Rotary Club, is holding a garage sale to raise money for regional drought relief on April 18.
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Thea said she has not held a charitable garage sale for a few years, but since she has reduced her home contents from several decades by nearly half, with other donations for the sale, the time was right.
“Because that’s what I live for. I live to help other people,” Thea said.
A native of Indonesia, Thea came to Australia via Singapore and Malaysia. She settled in Inverell in 1991. She said upon receiving her residency, she made a pledge.
“I swore there and then, first of all to be a dutiful citizen, and secondly, to do what I could, for any Australian in trouble that came my way.”
“She’s always helping somebody out,” Thea’s long-time friend, Shirley Ting said.
Her garage is packed with items for everybody, such as furniture, kitchenware, lots of manchester, floral stands and vases, pot plants and plenty of good quality bric-a-brac to browse.
Thea has just received the Rotary Inspirational Women’s award for the Rotary District 9650 and was presented with a trophy in Sydney by former district 9675 governor Garry Browne.
Rotary recognised Thea because of her long dedication to the support and aid of others. She has provided community grief counselling for more than 60 people since her own husband’s death in 2005.
She is an Inverell Community Garden member, and committed fundraiser for those in need. Thea was able to distribute charitable donations to elderly poor in Indonesia on a recent visit.
Australian troops in East Timor and Afghanistan have been in the receiving end of Thea’s efforts, with care packages filled with comfort parcels that included her own biscuits.
She has served as secretary for Camp Quality, and has long been a volunteer for Neighbourhood Watch. She has supported the New England Volunteer Air Transport, and provided accommodation for various NEVAT pilots.
Thea is famous for her cooking, and has published My Thank You Australia Cookbook, and sold 1000 copies with proceeds donated to NEVAT.
The Red Cross has seen Thea as a very active member, and she has been a friend to many at McLean Village, where she visits each Friday. She has also been a dedicated driver for those who need transport, and provided meals to people in need.
The garage sale for drought relief will be on Saturday, April 18 from 7am to noon at 91 Short Street.