Twenty vehicles had gathered at the station forecourt to finalise the work of the last 18 months of collecting ring pulls from drink cans to eventually purchase a wheelchair for Dungog Shire Palliative Care Volunteers.

Whilst it is always good to run your eyes over the work and devotion that goes into taking care of these beauties at a level we’ve never seem able to reach - but on this day a wheelchair was the star on show.

Many months ago treasurer of the car club Ronda Tyne heard a rumour around the traps that if enough of these ring pulls could be collected and sold, we may collect enough money to purchase something for palliative care.

So the word went out to all corners to begin collecting.

We had pubs and clubs, private citizens, people from Gloucester, Cessnock, Maitland and even from Wyong Hospital and all club members contributing.

The public, people whom we don’t know, would leave bundles on our front steps and the carport.

The culmination of all this effort came to fruition with the presentation down at the railway station with club members and their cars as the backdrop.

Palliative care president Margaret Jones was so very humble and excited when Ronda made the presentation of a brand new wheelchair to her care.

The chair was suitably inscribed on behalf of the car club with a plaque.

Margaret said the chair would be put to good use.

“The need is huge and volunteer base is very small,” Mrs Jones said.

“This lightweight wheelchair will be a wonderful help and easy for our volunteers and clients to use.

“The people we take care of will really appreciate it.”

To show the effectiveness of the chair, president Rob Wells, an elderly member of our club, gave it a test run with a blanket over his legs, to complete the picture of the aged.

Rob and Ronda finished off with a deeply felt thank you to all members for their dedication.

Finally we must advise all members and the public to save their ring pulls because the show is on again.