When one of our own is in need, you'll often find the Lithgow community rallies together.
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And that's just what happened when Della's Gardening Services owner Joel Dellabosca had his Masport contractor lawn mower stolen while out on a job.
Joel was whipper snipping at Jackson's Flats on Wednesday, September 2 and left his work Ute parked on Musket Parade.
"I realised when I finished whipper snipping, I went to get my mower and it was already gone," he said.
Joel said he felt heart broken that someone would steal machinery from him.
"I was feeling pissed off because it's my livelihood and I can't do it without machinery, I can't get the job done," he said.
He notified the police and took to Facebook but no one has been able to find it.
Fortunately for Joel, a close friend in Mitch Hibbard who worked with him in the past at Lithgow Council, used the power of social media to raise funds for a new lawn mower.
Mitch said he's had items stolen from him and his family in the past and knew how it felt.
He wrote in a Facebook post "Ok guys I'm putting $100 towards a new mower for Joel Dellabosca I think the mowers are around the $1500 mark I'll ring around tomorrow. So if anyone else would like to donate to help him out PM me, cheers Mitch."
Mitch said he was more than happy to help Joel who was a hard working man.
"He's always been a good bloke and worked hard for everything that he has so I thought I'd try and help out," he said.
Several local businesses and community members chipped in and raised a total of $1600 to purchase a lawn mower from Lithgow Valley Outdoor Specialists.
"I was gifted with another Masport contractor but this one has a 850 professional Briggs and Stratton motor," Joel said.
He said he was feeling very thankful to the community.
"I didn't expect any of this to happen but I'm very thankful and very humbled," he said.
Joel wanted to thank everyone who donated, Mitch for organising it and Lithgow Valley Outdoor Specialists for supplying the lawn mower.
I'll be thinking of you all when I've got my mower going.
- Della's Gardening Services owner Joel Dellabosca.
"I'll be thinking of you all when I've got my mower going," he said.
There was some leftover money that Mitch planned to use to get a metal fabrication company on board to modify Joel's work trailer.
"The leftover money will go towards modifying Joel's trailer so he can lock everything up," Mitch said.
Lithgow Valley Outdoor Specialists owner Mick Wagner said Joel had been a loyal customer since the business first opened in Lithgow.
"He's just one of those blokes out there having a really long hard go and he's doing really well," he said.
"When things like this happen it affects all of us in some way, and we are happy to help him through a situation like this so he can get back out there," Mr Wagner said.
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