Ms Brent-Winder cannot believe her eyes as she arrives home
last night. Photo by Matthew Haggart.
Lake Hawea woman Robyn Brent-Winder was last night left
speechless and overwhelmed by the "incredible generosity" of
her many friends and supporters in the close-knit Hawea
community.
After returning from a holiday, Ms Brent-Winder and her
partner Grant Newall last night walked into their home to be
greeted by an $80,000-plus renovation job to the house and
its gardens, a bunch of well-wishing locals and media.
"I just can't believe it. How on earth did you manage all of
this?" Ms Brent-Winder asked her friend Sharalee Gibson
during a tour of her newly-renovated home.
Mrs Gibson came up with the idea for an extreme makeover of
Ms Brent-Winder's leasehold house about a month ago.
Originally, Mrs Gibson wanted to get some like-minded locals
together to try to help out Ms Brent-Winder with a holiday
fund.
"It was a way of saying thanks for all of the giving that she
does. Anyone around here has a tale about Robyn's incredible
kindness," Mrs Gibson said.
"Everyone" had wanted to help in "one way or the other" once
they had heard about the "local muck-in".
"It just took on a life of its own. We decided we might put
in some decking and a driveway for her and then everything
snowballed," she said.
Ms Brent-Winder is a Barnados caregiver and looks after the
children of many of her neighbours and other nearby
residents.
She has lived in her Timsfield home for about 20 years, after
moving there from her hometown of Ranfurly.
Mr Newall said he was "blown away" by what everyone had done
for them.
Lake Hawea residents had pitched in with time and donations
and many businesses from around the Upper Clutha also came on
board.
Mrs Gibson estimated more than $80,000 worth of building
materials and home items had been donated to the project.
"Everyone's enthusiasm has just been amazing. It's hard to
believe there's a recession on when people are so giving,"
Mrs Gibson said.
More than 50 people had helped out during the past 11 days to
turn the refit around in time for Ms Brent-Winders' return
last night.
Tradesmen and volunteers had mucked in for more than 10 hours
a day during a time when weather conditions included rain,
dense fog, near-zero temperatures and a snowstorm, she said.
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