NAB have presented Kempsey Showground with a $5000 cheque to go towards helping distribute four truck loads of donated fodder as well as upgrading the Showground as an evacuation centre.
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The Kempsey Showground was the emergency evacuation point for over 1000 residents who were impacted by the Carrai East bushfire last month.
"The showgrounds became the emergency evacuation points for people across the Mid North Coast and for NAB it was a straight forward decision to help them in any way we could," NAB retail customer executive Kim Dahler said.
"We're thrilled to be able to do this, giving to local groups where we live is important. The showgrounds were so important to locals and we wanted to make it easier for them."
The money will help with fuel costs and transport of the 148 round bales, 33 large square bales and 260 small square bales that were delivered from Colac in Victoria on Monday as well as helping maintain the Kempsey Showground as an evacuation point in the future.
Coordinator of the Kempsey Showground Lisa Powlesland said the recent fires have highlighted the need to maintain the showground facilities for residents.
"This emergency has outlined the importance of the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of all parts of the facility, buildings and grounds so they are at the constant ready for anything our community needs," she said.
"It was an extraordinary response from all of the organisations who helped run the evacuation centre, we wouldn't have been able to do it without them.
"This will go towards improving the facilities so that if it's ever needed again, we will be ready," Lisa said.
The donated hay from Victoria has been allocated to 21 farmers up river and deliveries will begin tomorrow.
"The money from NAB will also go towards the costs involved in moving the hay and delivering it to the farmers."
The Mid North Coast Community College, as land managers of the Kempsey Showground, will also be working to present the Victorian farmers who donated hay with tax deductible certificates for their donations.
"It's just a way of saying thank you and giving back to the farmers who have helped us. The farmers will then be able to claim what they donated through their tax," Lisa said.
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