Thursday, January 19, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE

Town gets $500,000 windfall from paper mill workers

The Tokoroa community will be $500,000 better off this evening thanks to the generosity of workers at the Kinleith pulp and paper mill.

The South Waikato Social Welfare Club is winding up and is distributing its funds to community groups.

Those to benefit include:

- St John’s Ambulance – a new ambulance.

- Tokoroa hospital – a defibrillator for the accident and emergency department, and a microscope for locating foreign bodies in the eye.

- Salvation Army – a commercial kitchen.

- Putaruru Volunteer Fire Brigade – cutting equipment.

- Tokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade – jaws of life, a thermal imaging camera.

- Stroke Foundation – a vehicle for transporting patients.

- Tokoroa hospice – hospital beds.

The fund was established by Engineers’ Union members at the mill many years ago.

Cheque presentations will be made at the South Waikato Social Club at 7.30 tonight.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little, who will be at the ceremony, said that members were determined the money should benefit the Tokoroa community.

ENDS