OUT TO HELP: Members of the Goughs Bay community (from left) Karl Ischovitz, Alan Hale, Jim Parker, Jim Ward, Bob Forster, Mary Parker, Lyn Westcott, Tom Cullen, Bob Westcott, Pauline Hale, Charlotte Cullen, Steve Jordan and Craig Veneman came out to help neighbors Alan and Pauline Hale for a second time when the sub-flooring for their home arrived early on Thursday morning.

Goughs Bay folk stand by a family in need

Written by By PAM ZIERK-MAHONEY.

TYPICAL for Australians that when the chips are down that’s when friends and neighbors come out to help.

So it has been for Alan and Pauline Hale of Goughs Bay, who last year were left without a home, which they said they’d fully paid for.

The Hales purchased a block of land in Goughs Bay some years ago with the intention of retiring there.

They applied for a planning permit to place a transportable home, shed and sewerage system onto the block.

It was then they discovered Goulburn-Murray Water had changed the conditions for sewerage systems and drainage regulations in proximity to Lake Eildon.

Their house site fell short of the new 300 metres from high water mark compliance - with only a distance of some 150 metres from the now full lake.

Overcoming that dilemma with the help of Mansfield Shire Council negotiating and gaining permits for the sewerage system to be installed, they then erected a shed.

They had already looked into all kinds of alternative ways of building their retirement home and finally settled on a transportable, which they duly ordered and paid for through Aussie Transportable and Kit Homes Pty.

However, Mr Hale said after ordering and paying for the home to be built, the company went out of business.

Great Bear Log Homes, which was subcontracted by the company, has been working with the Hales, who are still without a home.

"The chaps at Great Bear Log Homes have been fantastic and have agreed to release the subframe to me even though they are still owed a considerable sum of money," he said.

The Goughs Bay community became fully aware of the plight of the Hales when Mrs Hale collapsed one night at the boat club and was taken to hospital.

The community then decided to get behind the Hales and see what could be done to sort out the mess and to get them their home.

Setting to work the community raised enough money to purchase stumps and concreting materials.

Working with planning contractor, Carl Barton, a community working bee has seen the site ready to take on the transportable home.

However, Mr Hale said that due to the framework of the home sitting out in the weather for so long it had to be dismantled and thrown away.

All that is left and usable is the subframe - the floor frame, which is made of steel.

"I have looked at getting a kit home and putting onto the subframe but that will cost around $50,000 to complete, and to get it to just lock up stage is $34,000," Mr Hale said.

"I have not got the money to do this as I have retired.