A Community with Heart

In the wake of the tragedy and heartbreak brought about by the Queensland floods, we are hearing countless heart-warming stories of communities banding together in support of their fellow Australians in need.

One town which shows that the community – indeed the Aussie - spirit is alive and kicking is the big-hearted township of Parkes, NSW, where locals and businesses are enthusiastically doing their bit for QLD's flood victims.

Staff at Harvey Norman, Parkes have reported overwhelming support for their recent sausage sizzle and raffle, held to raise money for flood victims. While local businesses joined forces with Harvey Norman to donate prizes for the raffle, individuals also played their part - with one kind-hearted soul simply walking into the store and handing over a cheque for $900!

The local Woolworths also raised money and crowds by hosting a market day complete with face painting, a chocolate wheel and sausage sizzle.

A Christmas Wish

Harvey Norman Liverpool recently played the role of Santa for a very ill little boy who had a simple Christmas wish.

On being diagnosed with a brain tumour last October, seven-year-old Alan Ryan was rushed to Westmead Children’s Hospital - for specialist surgery - by a Telstra Child Flight helicopter.

Following surgery, and against all odds, the Bathurst boy showed his fighting spirit and is now staying at Westmead's Ronald McDonald House.
When Telstra Child Flight staff heard that a Nintendo DSi was at the top of Alan's Christmas wish list, they approached Harvey Norman's Rodney El Hindi who readily donated the gaming machine as well as a Scribblenauts game.

Needless to say, Alan was thrilled with his new game!

“Alan hasn’t stopped playing with his new toy, which is the envy of his siblings," commented Telstra Child Flight’s fundraising and event co-ordinator Teri White. "Telstra Child Flight thanks Harvey Norman Liverpool for helping to make a sick little boy a little happier at Christmas.”

Helping Our Mates In Need

Myer, Harvey Norman, Harvey Norman Franchisees & Suppliers gave a helping hand at the Premier's Flood Appeal - at the Mates in Need Fundraiser, held last night at Tedder Ave - with a donation of a minimum $750,000.


Harvey Norman's Managing Director, Katie Page, commented: "Like everyone, we have been desperate to help as the floods have taken hold in the towns and suburbs of Queensland. Myer stores and Harvey Norman franchises employ over 4,000 people in Queensland - that's 4,000 families that are either directly or indirectly impacted by the floods.

The clean-up and the healing have only just begun, so we know that first and foremost what will help the flood victims is cash.

As of this afternoon we have raised a minimum of three quarters of a million dollars and the money will keep coming over the course of the Tedder Ave fundraiser tonight with all money raised going to the Premier's Flood Appeal."

Bernie Brookes, Myer Chief Executive Officer, added: “This disaster still unfolding in Queensland is something we will never forget. Many of our customers are distressed and suffering significant hardship and over 20 of our team members have lost their homes.

Part of our efforts will also go towards helping re-establish the households of our impacted team members as quickly as possible.

We hope that the contributions of Myer and Harvey Norman along with our customers, team members and suppliers will go some way to helping those impacted by the devastating floods.”

The Kindness of Strangers

After having his laptop stolen last year, a 15-year-old male student of Lithgow High School's special education unit recently received a very welcome gift from an unexpected source. On reading of the teenager's plight in the local newspaper, Harvey Norman Lithgow's Jason Hines demonstrated that the community spirit is alive and well, by giving the boy a brand new laptop computer.
Nice one, Jason! Who says happy endings are only in fairy tales?