How ETC supports Emergency Services after Toormina hail storm

ETC cooks free BBQ at Triple M’s live Emergency Services Thank You Breakfast

A severe supercell storm caused havoc on the Mid North Coast recently, and it left some especially devastating effects on the Coffs Harbour, Boambee, and Toormina areas.

To say thank you to emergency services, Triple M radio hosted a live BBQ breakfast event broadcast from the Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre. ETC was keen to support this event due to many of the not-for-profit staff being personally affected by the recent storms.

In case you missed the news, the region suffered extreme damage from ferocious winds, huge golf-ball-sized hailstones, and severe thunderstorms.

Grass fields quickly disappeared in a wash of white ice, and cars were left damaged and sliding around the road like rogue first-time ice skaters.

Rain gutters filled with hail, causing gushing water, flash flooding, leaking roofs and electrical outages. The SES reported receiving hundreds of calls for assistance.

Many buildings were battered by hurdling hail stones – but the Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre suffered some of the worst damage, with its roof partially collapsing during the storm.

After a huge clean-up effort from emergency services and the community itself, repairs got underway and things began returning to normality.

Thank You BBQ Breakfast

To shine light on the amazing efforts of emergency services, Triple M then hosted a Thank You breakfast event.

Handy Bin Waste Services got involved and provided the BBQ equipment and bins. Woolworths and Coles joined forces to supply the food.

ETC assisted by cooking a free BBQ breakfast.

Everyone was keen to show their appreciation for the amazing volunteers at SES and Fire & Rescue, plus the Police, who have supported the local community during the ordeal.

Starting at sunrise, ETC staff spent the morning cooking breakfast for hungry attendees – proudly displaying their appreciation on the company’s behalf.

ETC also donated $1000 to the local SES which will contribute to future training for their volunteers and equipment.

Emergency Services workers began arriving bright and early, and local MP Gurmish Singh also attended the event.

“It was heart-warming to attend this, not only to show our appreciation to the emergency services, but to talk with and acknowledge other local people who were significantly affected from this freak weather event,” said ETC GMNC Business Relationship Manager Billy-Joh Ballantyne.

ETC is a registered Charity and aims to make a positive impact on people’s lives.