After the Katherine Club hosted its traditional Australia Day breakfast on January 26, manager Alison Vincent and chairman Kevin Fisher announced last week that the $1510 raised during the event would help provide new equipment for the Katherine Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.

The club selects a different local beneficiary every year and Mrs Vincent told the Katherine Times the horrific impact bushfires had had on other communities across Australia during the festive season had made the decision easy.

“It was a fairly quick decision, actually,” she explained.

“We struggle to think of a local organisation we can donate to, but when we saw what bushfires had done in other parts of Australia, it was easy to choose the volunteer bushfire brigade.”

The money was raised through a sumptuous $5 barbecue and Mrs Vincent praised Katherinites for their willingness to open their wallets for a good cause.

“It was a real show of community spirit,” she said.

“People didn’t mind paying $10 because they knew the money would stay local, so they kept telling us to keep the change.”

Brigade captain Rod Usher said, while a decision had yet to be made on exactly what the money would be spent on, new equipment was high on the list.

“We were talking about new equipment with the money,” he said.

“We might end up getting a new spraying rig for weeds.

“We’re always replacing gear.

“If there’s enough left, we were also talking about getting new Territory and Australian flags out the front [of the brigade’s Zimin Drive headquarters].”

Brigade stalwart and former captain Bob Wright said the community generosity shown as part of the donation would not be forgotten by volunteers, adding that there were numerous incidental expenses they covered out of their own pockets as part of their duties.

“It costs money to be in the brigade,” he said.

“They’ve got their time and their fuel from running back and forward.

“This donation is something that the community will benefit from.”