Concreters’ salute to ailing army vet
AN ailing Australian Army veteran battling a brain tumour is “overwhelmed” at getting service in return from a group of generous tradies.
Gold Coaster veteran Ash Hurley, forced out of work since last year with the potentially fatal tumour, has been buoyed by concreters from Maroochydore to Redcliffe paving his driveway for free.
The large group of tradies made the trip to Mr Hurley’s Maudsland home on Monday to pour him the new driveway after he had inquired about a quote for the job.
Mr Hurley, 40, served in the Australian Army from 18 years of age to his mid-20s as a gunner with posts in East Timor and Malaysia before leaving to start his own pool building business.
However, he was forced out of work last year following the brain tumour diagnosis.
Mr Hurley sees his two sons Byron, 3, and Hunter, 7, once every fortnight, so with time on his hands he wanted to upgrade his driveway.
One of his former superiors in the army put him on to concreter Bucky Selkirk who told the former soldier not to worry about expenses. Mr Selkirk, who runs a Facebook group for tradies – which allows workers to find and fill jobs – put out a message about Mr Hurley’s situation.
Concreters were quick to put up their hands. “I just rang him up and said ‘What would this cost?’ And he said ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ll look after all of it’,” Mr Hurley said.
“For blokes to come from the Sunny Coast and from out west to help me is out of control.
“I’ve been overwhelmed, for these guys, who don’t know me, to give up their time and money is incredible.”
Mr Selkirk said concreters were happy to give up their day to help Mr Hurley.
“Given Ash has done a lot for our country by serving in the army, there were plenty of people out there happy to donate their time,” Mr Selkirk said.
On his medical outlook, Mr Hurley said: “The doctors didn’t think I was going to make it through the operation.
“When I went into hospital the brain surgeon told me to go away for a week while they organised the four or five surgeons needed, and for me to get all my affairs in order.
“Treatment has made me put on 60kg, but they think they’re getting on top of the tumour now.”
I’VE BEEN OVERWHELMED, FOR THESE GUYS, WHO DON’T KNOW ME, TO GIVE UP THEIR TIME AND MONEY IS INCREDIBLE