Gift lightens load on family
A SEACHANGE quickly became a heartbreaking nightmare for the Kostrz family.
Retirees Edwin and Ann Kostrz moved from Adelaide to Clifton Springs in 2016, but within weeks of moving Ms Kostrz was diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer.
She died within months of her diagnosis and her husband was then diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly after.
Their daughter Krysia Kostrz was undertaking her masters in psychology at the time, while trying to care for her sick parents.
A community initiative is helping in a small way to brighten the lives of the Kostrz family after a dark couple of years.
The Geelong Community Solar Program has donated a solar system to the Clifton Springs family to help ease their bill woes.
Krysia said her mother was passionate about the environment and helped to implement kerbside recycling in South Australia.
“When we moved here Mum wanted to put solar panels up,” Krysia said.
“We had to pay for the funeral and then dad got cancer.
“I was studying as well so its been really tricky financially.”
She said the solar panels would make an immense difference to the financial pressures on the family.
“This was the best good news ever, we needed some good news,” she said.
“It’s been really easy and we’re very grateful.”
Shinehub has joined forces with Geelong Sustainability and the Rotary Club of Geelong to donate four solar systems to the Geelong region, including Samaritan House and the Kostrz family.
Shinehub CEO Alex Georgiou said the community program was all about giving back to people in need.
He said the solar system donated to the Kostrz family was worth about $5000.