An Orange builder is planning to pay it forward again this festive season with the relaunch of the Random Acts of Kindness – Christmas Miracle project.
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Peter O’Brien Constructions managing director Peter O’Brien is expanding the project he started last year for a worthy individual or not-for-profit group.
This Christmas it will include Bathurst as well as Orange, and he is increasing the prize from $15,000 to $18,000, including materials, labour and cash to be put towards a project.
“We are really excited to see what applicants that we have this year and how the money or project can benefit them and/or the community,” Mr O’Brien said.
“I hope there will be lots of applicants and everyone supports the one they want to win. It is an integral part of our business to help people and to make a difference.”
Australian Community Media Western group managing editor Tony Rhead said the project demonstrated how far some people would go to help a stranger.
“This is a great display of community generosity to ease the burden for people in Orange and Bathurst who may not have the facilities or access that their disability requires, or who have been set back by hard times or personal tragedy,” Mr Rhead said.
“The Central Western Daily and Western Advocate back this sort of project because it helps identify people in our community who may need our help.”
Last year 1640 people in Orange and Cabonne voted to select the top five Christmas Miracle projects from 17 nominees.
A panel of Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak members selected Molong man Matt Knott, who had recently lost his fiancee Kelly Landers and her daughter Sevanah Lang in a car crash, for the prize, which involved completing stalled renovations on Mr Knott’s house.
An independent panel of four community representatives from Orange and two from Bathurst will judge this year’s nominees.
Nomination forms will be published in the Western Advocate next week and can be dropped at 163 George Street until Wednesday, December 9. Voting for the final three will close on Wednesday, December 16 and the winner will be published in the Western Advocate on Christmas Eve.