Greta Rural Fire Brigade has devised a unique fundraising concept to help the brigade buy new equipment and encourage people to clean up their properties in the lead-up to summer. The Spring Scrap Metal Muster will be held on Saturday, August 30 at the Rothbury Riot Memorial entrance on Wine Country Drive. People can drop off scrap metal, whitegoods, aluminium cans and car batteries for free; it will be unloaded and sorted by the brigade volunteers, then sold to Balcomb Metal Recyclers who will buy it at the appropriate metal exchange rate, with the funds to go to the brigade. The Rutherford recycling centre will also donate bins for the day. Brigade secretary Renée Dimech said the scrap metal muster was a “spur of the moment” idea that they hope will give their coffers a much-needed boost. “We’ve only done the ordinary fundraisers like raffles and car parking at Wyndham Estate,” Ms. Dimech said. “In the past couple of years we’ve been scrimping and saving with what’s in the bank account.” “It will also encourage people to have a bit of a spring clean-up around their properties as well as prepare for the upcoming bushfire period. “While scrap metal itself doesn’t burn, it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of a clean-up.” The scrap metal muster will run from 9am to 1pm on August 30. If successful, Ms. Dimech said the brigade hopes it will become an annual event. The Greta RFS currently has about 20 regular members and is always looking for more. It will hold an open day at its Nelson Street headquarters on Saturday, September 13. The open day will run 10am to 3pm feature motorcycle, 4WD and car club displays, a kids jumping castle, Lions Club barbecue, CWA cake stall and Men’s Shed representatives. For more information on these events, call Renée Dimech on 0423 513 201 or email greta@lowerhunterrfs.com.au.