AN UNDERSTANDING that Valla and Valla Beach rural fire brigades rarely enjoy an 'off season' has prompted a local supermarket to donate a significant sum of money to them.
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On Sunday, Kevin Barlin, store manager at Ritchies IGA at the Nambucca Plaza, handed over $1234 to each of the active brigaes.
The money was raised through IGA's Community Benefits Fund, and the staff at the Nambucca store were polled to see which community groups would be chosen as recipients.
"Being on the highway these guys attend a lot of accidents and also there is a lot of bush area around us - so the brigades are being called upon right through the year and not just in summer," Kevin told the Guardian.
Valla Beach brigade captain Graham Bartlett welcomed the donation and said it would significantly help maintain equipment in the shed.
Valla secretary treasurer Bruce Alexander said the money would help purchase equipment above and beyond that covered by the Rural Fire Service.
Valla captain Peter Brougham said an example of new equipment needed was a hose drying rack to replace the old vertical poles which presented some safety challenges.
