General News
2 May, 2022
Community rallies to get Noel a new bike
TWO weeks ago, Noel Hurstfield’s bike was stolen from Ararat’s main street.
TWO weeks ago, Noel Hurstfield’s bike was stolen from Ararat’s main street.
It was a huge shock to Noel, who first alerted Deb at Deb’s Diner, who in turn contacted police.
Afterwards, a post was put up on the Ararat Residents Facebook page, asking for help in getting Noel a new set of wheels.
People in Ararat would know Noel by sight.
He often carts a small trailer behind his bike which is used to carry a lawnmower. Fortunately the trailer was not attached when the bike went missing.
Noel said he relies on his bike as an essential part of his business.
His bike was eventually found destroyed, prompting numerous offers flooded via Facebook from community members who wanted to donate the funds needed to buy a new bike.
Liesa Iezekil offered to use her shop in the main street as the designated place for people to donate money.
“I actually had to knock back money,” Liesa said, so forthcoming was the community in making donations.
Noel then talked to Donna at Lardner Bros and chose a new bike, and Lardner Bros will be making the needed additions to the new bike so that Noel can start carting his trailer again and resume cutting lawns for his regular clients.
“He would have missed a bit of money without being able to mow lawns for a little while,” Liesa said.
Liesa said that the town has rallied around Noel because he is so involved in the community, with sports in particular.
“In the community, he goes into all the shops and chats to everybody. The kids love him, they all love him,” Liesa said.