When Norma Single got the phone call saying she had won first prize of a ring worth $2450 in a raffle raising funds for Can Assist Manning Valley, she didn't believe the caller. She'd only bought one ticket.
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"I honestly could not believe it. When I rang my daughter that night, she said, 'Mum, are you sure it's not a scam?'. Even now, I still can't believe it!" Norma said.
"I've never seen that look on her face before, as I did when she got phone call," Norma's husband Brian said. "She was dumbfounded."
Even when presented with the ring by ladies from Can Assist and jeweller Robin Green at his store in River Arcade on Thursday, May 9, and after placing it on her finger (where it fitted perfectly as if made to order for her) she was still in disbelief.
"I've never seen that look on her face before, as I did when she got phone call.
- Brian Single
The ring was designed, created and donated by Rob. It is completely handmade and consists of 18 karat yellow gold and white gold. The focus is a large Australian green sapphire - a natural stone, not heat treated - which is highlighted by five diamonds.
Last year a contingent from Can Assist visited Rob in his store to see if he could help out with their Elton John tribute fundraising show, when Rob suggested he could make something for them to raise funds for the non-profit organisation at a later date.
"We were more than overwhelmed when we realised exactly what he was doing for us, and the value of it at $2450, which was amazing," Bonita Lindfield said.
"Rob is an amazingly talented and generous man," fellow Can Assist member Sharon Smyth said.
Rob has already offered to make and donate another quality piece of jewellery for Mothers Day 2020 as a fundraiser for Can Assist.
We were more than overwhelmed when we realised exactly what he was doing for us, and the value of it at $2450, which was amazing.
- Bonita Lindfield, Can Assist Manning Valley
The raffle was drawn at Can Assist's High Tea held at the Waterfront Function Centre at the Exchange Hotel in Taree on Sunday, May 5.
Can Assist sold so many tickets, they had to draw them from a big doona cover, the only thing they could find that would hold all of the tickets.
The total amount of funds raised from the raffle combined with the High Tea was $9000.
All funds raised go towards financially assisting people in the MidCoast region during cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
