Narromine’s 25 Club has donated more than $16,000 to local aged care facility Timbrebongie House to buy much-needed equipment for its elderly residents.

The community fundraising stalwarts regularly give away tens of thousands of dollars they raise for local projects from continuous raffles run throughout the year.

After generously supporting cancer non-profits for the last two years, this year’s fundraising ($16,599.50) will support Narromine’s most vulnerable citizens.

Spokesperson Christine Kelly, who has been a member of the club for an extraordinary 51 years, told Dubbo Photo News that supporting Timbrebongie House would “help keep those people here.” It is something the club is passionate about.

“They have a lot of high-care residents now in their low-care [area], and they need more equipment,” Chris explained.

“We decided to get [Timbrebongie House’s] wishlist and try to raise some money for everything that was on it, and we managed to do that,” she added.

The donation was formally acknowledged at the annual 25 Club Dinner, held last Saturday, September 13, in Narromine. Attended by more than 50 people including local councillors, the dinner enabled the club to thank members and supporters and highlight how their support has made a difference in the the local community.

Chris is extremely proud that the small-but-mighty 25 Club has a long history of donating every cent raised to the causes they have supported.

Community facilities like the public toilets adjoining the Narromine Aquatic Centre (which Narromine Council is looking to reopen), and indeed, the local high school hall were built long ago by the community with donated funds orchestrated by the 25 Club.

“If you look at our history, we've always put any money that we raised back into the town,” Chris said.

“That has happened since the first years the club was formed. We've always put every penny that we raise back into the town, and every year we have a project. We've raised an awful lot of money for this community,” she added.

Supporting Timbrebongie House and its much-loved aged care residents was a no-brainer, Chris said, and the 11-member 25 Club had pursued the cause with vigour.

“It's absolutely imperative that we have [an aged care facility] in Narromine. It's more important than anything, I think.

“These places can be the loneliest places in the world if you've got no one visiting you much there, right? And we need all the facilities we can to keep our people here where they do have really some friends,” Chris concluded.