Boxers' helping hands | Warwick News | Local News in Warwick

MORE THAN NEIGHBOURS: Warwick Boxing Club President Andrew Grafton with Mrs Todd's daughter Carmel Henshaw in front of the soon to be replaced fence.

Warwick Daily News

LONG-term resident Alma Todd had a devastating fall on one of Warwick's coldest nights this year, where the temperature plummeted to below zero, however, an idea from an unusual neighbour hopes to see her in form sooner.

Rallying around the much-loved 89-year-old is the Warwick Boxing Club - not your typical neighbour - which hopes the installation of a new fence will see Mrs Todd home sooner.

The boxing club and Mrs Todd have been neighbours for more than 25 years and, according to Mrs Todd's daughter Carmel Henshaw, her mum loved living next to the club's hive of activity.

“She loved to see who's coming and going and there're a few footballs stuck in the conifer,” Mrs Henshaw laughed.

“For almost 60 years Mum's lived at this house until three weeks ago when she had her fall.

“It was minus-four degrees that night and she was alone for several hours and was suffering from hypothermia when she was brought into hospital.”

Upon hearing the news, Warwick Boxing Club president Andrew Grafton and club members visited Mrs Todd in hospital to deliver flowers and decided to do something special for their elderly neighbour.

“The fence was dilapidated and we thought a new fence would give her a good kick-along,” Mr Grafton said.

“We wanted to acknowledge our neighbour for over 25 years and show a token of our appreciation.”

Last week, club volunteers pulled down the old fence and the club will pay for half of the new colourbond fence.

Mr Grafton hoped the fence would be up in about two weeks with the help of local business Get Fenced, which had agreed to complete the job at cost price.

The heavily community-orientated club is not your run-of-the-mill gym where people go to merely blow off steam.

“It's not just about punching bags,” Mr Grafton said.

The club's only sponsor is Headspace, which is Australia's national youth mental health foundation.

“We're here for everyone and anyone,” he said.