AS Broken Hill sweltered through 34-degree temperatures without power on Tuesday, the local community banded together to provide food, shelter and support throughout the town.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Wellbeing Place facility, powered by two generators, opened its doors to offer a place to work, enjoy a hot beverage or meet friends.
The centre offered power points for charging facilities, free wi-fi, and hot tea and coffee.
Fans were running inside to keep attendees cool, and local cafe The Deli donated boxes of cakes and baked goods.
Operations manager for Far West mental health, alcohol and other drugs at the Wellbeing Place, Kayelene Crossing said it was aimed at providing a space for the community to feel supported.
“Over 100 people came through over the course of the day on Tuesday, including school students who used the facility to study for their exams after school,” she said.
The phones might have been down but that didn’t stop the Rotary Club from slipping into gear to cook a free meal for everyone in Sturt Park.
“Some people said they hadn’t eaten for a couple of days,” Rotary member Sue James said.
“Everyone is very appreciative.”
Club treasurer Brian Slater said it came together in a few hours after a fellow member called him that morning to suggest the free breakfast.
“He said ‘how about it?’ and then everyone just turned up,” Mr Slater said.
“It was a bit difficult because there was no phone coverage out the South, so we were driving around trying to get a signal to arrange everything.”
Local businesses donated everything needed for a good, old fashioned fry-up that the Rotarians served up under the shade.
Down the road on Oxide Street, local organisations MateCare, PBS Practitioners and Care Together Co-ordination collaborated to provide a free sausage sizzle and ice creams, along with a charging station.
