Urbenville rallies to aid injured feller

IT was just another day at work, a week before Christmas, when things went horribly wrong for 32-year-old Urbenville timber worker Troy Hill.
“Troy cut down a tree for the 1000th time, but didn’t have luck on his side this time,” local Colleen Scofield said.
Urbenville will unite this weekend as the town stages the Troy Hill Swampy Classic to raise money for the injured worker.
Mr Hill was known for his generosity and now it’s the community’s turn to help him out.
“In what can only be described as a freak accident, the tree he felled dragged another small tree with it,” Ms Scofield said.
“That’s pretty standard, but that tree flicked back, snapped and fell exactly where Troy’s escape route was.
“A couple of small branches drove him to the ground, but 500mm to the right and he wouldn’t be here at all.”
With severe leg wounds the injured timber worker was flown by helicopter to Lismore, just in time.
He spent two weeks in an induced coma before it was decided to again evacuate him, this time to Sydney.
“After three weeks of trying to fight the infection the surgeons in Sydney decided the only option to control the infection was to remove his leg,” Ms Scofield said.
Six weeks later Mr Hill has been moved from intensive care and should begin physiotherapy soon.
“His spirits are pretty good for what he’s been through, but he still needs our help,” Ms Scofield said.
This weekend a 20/20 cricket tournament will be at the showgrounds in Urbenville, with eight teams already committed. The bowls club is also organising a benefit day.
A monster raffle is offering at least 40 prizes including a riverboat journey, a caricature donated by federal MP Barnaby Joyce, a TV, loads of wood, strainer posts, gift cards and fuel prizes.
Ms Scofield said Skype will be used to include Mr Hill in the fund-raising effort, direct from his hospital bed.