Community urged to help out

Despite a busy life as president of the Port Hedland Ratepayers Association, John Peters has proved he will always take time out of his busy schedule to help those in need.

Bringing blankets, food and water, Mr Peters joined forces with members of the association and Aboriginal elder Kerry Robinson to lend a helping hand to homeless Aboriginal people on the outskirts of Hedland.

Mr Peters encouraging others to help out.

He said many Aboriginal members of the homeless community in Hedland were most commonly in town to be with family or for medical reasons and were left “high and dry” because of a lack of places to go.

“My wife and I started helping those in need before I joined the association — the Australian community has given us so much so now we feel it’s time for us to give back to the community,” Mr Peters said. Mr Peters and Mr Robinson said they brought a range of blankets, doonas and clothes every month and came daily with food.

Mr Robinson, a member of Kariyarra Aboriginal community, said it did not matter what community a person came from, he felt everyone deserved help when they needed support.

“You see all the problems come from the drinking and the drugs so we try to provide something good as well,” he said.

To donate items such as blankets or bread, call Mr Peters on 0499 103 505.