AN outpouring of support from the rural community has resulted in a fundraising commitment of more than $6500 in one day for a young Riverina shearer.
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Tommy Birch, 22, is currently fighting the battle of his life in Royal Adelaide Hospital after an alleged one-punch attack at Ivanhoe.
He is a member of the Morrison Shearing contractors team.
Kaye Morrison of Hay described Tommy as an excellent young shearer who had traveled to New Zealand and the UK to shear sheep.
She said he was a good person.
Mrs Morrison said she was heartened and overwhelmed by the support which had flowed early on after a go-fund-me page was established.
Meanwhile, support and words of encouragement have been shared across social media sites.
“We have had people donate from as far away as New Zealand,” Mrs Morrison said.
“There is certainly a real connection within the rural community,” she said.
Funds were also flowing steadily from those in the Hay and Riverina communities who were eager to support his road to recovery.
“And then we have people who don’t even know him, but feel some connection to the industry, and they are donating too,” she said.
When Mrs Morrison spoke to The Rural Tommy was still in Royal Adelaide Hospital.
She said he sustained a fractured skull and had some bleeding on the brain.
“He is lucky to be here,” she said.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
