The community continues to rally around a Bomaderry family who lost everything in a fire last month, with local Ford dealership, Kinghorn Motor Group, presenting the family with some new wheels.
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Wayne and Joanne Stewart’s Housing Department home in Sampson Crescent was destroyed in a fire on August 12.
Uninsured, the family literally escaped the fire with the clothes they were wearing.
The community rallied to help furnish the Stewart's new Department home with donations of goods and more than $6500 was raised at a benefit night at the Bomaderry RSL Club.
After the couple encountered car trouble recently, Kinghorn Motor Group came to the rescue and on Tuesday presented them with a second-hand Ford Fairlane Ghia.
Once he heard about the couple’s plight, Kinghorn Ford dealer principal, Geoff O'Connell was keen to help out.
A self-confessed “Ford Fan”, Mr Stewart said he and his wife were “blown away” by the community’s generosity.
“Our old ’99 AU Ford Falcon had been a great car but it was starting to have some troubles,” he said.
“She was starting to let us down and it was time for us to get another car. Young James Stewart again came to our aid and contacted Kinghorn and it has just grown from there.
“We can’t thank Kinghorn enough and everyone in the community who has helped us.”
Mr Stewart has diabetes and heart problems and undergoes dialysis three times a week at Shoalhaven Hospital. The family regularly has to make trips to Wollongong and Sydney to see doctors due to his conditions.
“The old girl was starting to lose her reliability and with my condition, not having a car, wasn’t an option,” he said.
“I have been a Ford man all my life, it started with my dad. When I was young we had a Pilot, and ever since have owned nothing but Fords.
“It was fantastic when Kinghorn made the offer. We couldn’t believe it.”
Kinghorn general manager Greg McBain and sales manager Chris Fendle officially presented the couple with the keys to a new set of wheels in front of family and friends on Tuesday.