The positive power of social media was exemplified this week after residents came to the aid of a volunteer firefighter who had his lawn mower stolen.
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The Mercury published a story on Friday detailing the theft of East Cessnock resident Brendon Nichol’s lawn mower while he was out attending to the Racecourse Road fire.
Mr Nichol had the mower out in his yard ready to help an elderly man whose lawn he regularly mows.
But he woke up after a long night firefighting to find his six-month-old mower was gone.
After posting the story to Facebook, comments poured in from people who wanted to offer support to Mr Nichol, who said he was not in a position to buy a new one.
A friend of Mr Nichol, Kellie O’Brien informed The Mercury that a kind resident named Jenn Woolsey saw the story and had offered to buy Mr Nichol a brand new machine.
Mr Nichol said he found out that firefighters helped save Ms Woolsey’s daughter’s home from the fires, so she wanted to give back.
The three visited Cessnock Bunnings to pick out a mower on Saturday morning, which the store offered at half price.
Mr Nichol said he was “gobsmacked” at the offer from someone who was a complete stranger.
“I didn’t know what to say or do,” he said.
“I could not believe it, I was actually in tears in the middle of Bunnings.”
Another reader Antony Webb also made an offer on the Facebook post to give Mr Nichol a near-new Victa Vintage mower.
Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
