With the help of the Lions Club, Councillor Bobby Bourke has spoken with councillors from the devastated region to find out what exactly the residents there will need to rebuild their lives.

They decided that whitegoods should be the focus of Bathurst’s relief effort, and Cr Bourke yesterday launched an appeal for all Bathurst residents and businesses to help where they can.

“I have spoken to Cr Joe Ramia from the Toowoomba Regional Council and as one town looking after another we are looking to help them,” he said yesterday.

“We are leaders in our community so we are hoping to show the way and make a real difference to the people of Toowoomba. I hope other towns in our region can adopt another town in Queensland and help them.”

Cr Bourke has spent the past three days busily planning this relief effort, enlisting the help of former mayor Bruce Bolam and Graeme Burke from Burke’s Transport.

“What we want people to donate are whitegoods and small electrical appliances that are in good working condition,” he said.

Starting Monday and continuing for a month, residents will be able to drop suitable items at the former Bathurst Trophies and Gifts store opposite Becks Bakery on George Street. They will then be taken to Queensland to be distributed.

However, Cr Bourke pleaded with residents not to drop off items that they simply did not want and that the appeal did not need.

“Our volunteers will be told not to accept money, food, blankets, clothes and other items along those lines,” he said.

“It is wonderful people would want to donate those goods and there are other organisations who will be happy to accept them.”

Deputy mayor Ian North also wants Bathurst to look at bringing flood victims to the region for a holiday, similar to the break organised for victims of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, as a “break from the heartache and a well-deserved rest”.