Not even sizzling 47 plus degree weather could stop the people of Meandarra district – officially claimed to have only 340 residents – from showing just how committed to helping they can be.

Almost all of them in fact, close to 300 people, turned out for the district’s inaugural Heart Health Day luncheon – organised as a tribute to local identity, the late Mr Graham Bridle.

Organisers of the event, which featured a charity auction including items as varied as jewellery, livestock and local artist Peta Crane’s canvas of the people and the lush gardens of the Uralla homestead, hoped they might raise as much as $25,000 from the day.

Recently Mrs Rhonda Bridle presented a cheque for more than $50,000 to Dr Gomes, including $10,000 contributed by the Condamine Bell Campdraft Committee.

Mrs Bridle said: “It was an amazing day …the support was overwhelming … a fitting tribute to Graham, his community spirit and his passion for the land”. 

Dr Gomes said everyone involved at including Heart of Australia was humbled by the heart-warming generosity of the Meandarra community.

He announced that Meandarra was “now on our travelling cardiology clinic’s road map for visits”, beginning in August this year.

And there’s more … that first “Heart Truck” visit in Meandarra will coincide with the wrap-up of a 400km plus, three-day and 30 riders Girls Got Heart cycle ride from Brisbane, also a local effort to raise funds for Heart of Australia’s mobile specialist clinic.