Community rally for family's Christmas

Christmas at the beach will be a memorable one for the Barker family and their daughter Shannon thanks to overwhelming community support.

The 12-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, has been confined to paths and away from the sand until a fundraising venture by the Albany Freemasons Number 10 Lodge, which finished last week.

The freemasons presented a cheque for $4000 to the family last Sunday after almost two months of sausage sizzles, enabling the purchase of an all-terrain wheelchair in time for Christmas.

Grateful mother Marie Barker thanked the committed members of the freemasons who donated their time on Sundays at Spencer Park and York Street IGAs.

“She loves the water, but we are at a point now where we can’t push her across the sand,” she said.

“She has spent her whole life on paths.

“This will transform our lives.”

Lodge member Keith Stephens said the freemasons had turned their fundraising attention to the family after a chance meeting with Ms Barker.

“We are always looking to make someone’s life just that little bit better,” he said.

“It is just something we started doing and we are committed to doing it.

“The donations have just been overwhelming from the Spencer Park community and customers down in Albany.”