A MUSWELLBROOK family going through a tough time has received a helping hand from Bengalla Mine.
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Thirteen apprentices and nine maintenance employees from Bengalla teamed up with the mine’s local suppliers to renovate the Ballards’ two-bedroom home.
The Ballards’ plans to better accommodate their three growing children and improve wheelchair access for the youngest child Jake, who has cerebral palsy, were put on hold when father Garry was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2009, tragically passing this year.
To give the family some assistance before Christmas, the Bengalla team installed ramps and handrails around the home and completed day-to-day maintenance and electrical tasks, replaced flooring and ceiling sheeting and blitzed the backyard.
Thank you to the following suppliers for their donations and support – Muswellbrook Steel Supplies, O’Brien Glass, Scott Collins Concreting, MMS engineering, CHC Solutions, Muswellbrook Electrical, Migas and Remondis.
![A JOB WELL DONE: Ballard’s family friend Josie Matthews (left), Jake Ballard (right) and Bengalla employee Tony Wall (back) inspect the renovations. A JOB WELL DONE: Ballard’s family friend Josie Matthews (left), Jake Ballard (right) and Bengalla employee Tony Wall (back) inspect the renovations.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-pG7YTWfqdBJtRGJdnR8uBz/9b000f74-17c6-4f49-88b2-267081881c69.jpg/r0_0_1000_1502_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![IN THE WILD: Bengalla maintenance technician Anthony Matthews trims the hedges at the Ballard family home in Muswellbrook. IN THE WILD: Bengalla maintenance technician Anthony Matthews trims the hedges at the Ballard family home in Muswellbrook.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-pG7YTWfqdBJtRGJdnR8uBz/57db7528-8bb1-4a69-9ede-00449449e42a.jpg/r0_0_1000_1502_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![MANY HANDS: The Bengalla team installs a ramp at the Ballard family home. MANY HANDS: The Bengalla team installs a ramp at the Ballard family home.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-pG7YTWfqdBJtRGJdnR8uBz/6f482715-505c-47ab-b6a9-6daa6685d20e.jpg/r0_71_1000_633_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![WORKING TOGETHER: Bengalla maintenance employees and apprentices stand with Jake Ballard (front centre) and Jake’s friend Josie Matthews in front of the Ballard family home. WORKING TOGETHER: Bengalla maintenance employees and apprentices stand with Jake Ballard (front centre) and Jake’s friend Josie Matthews in front of the Ballard family home.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-pG7YTWfqdBJtRGJdnR8uBz/8544220d-0fcd-487e-aab0-201db46af4b5.jpg/r0_53_1000_615_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)