THEY say what goes around comes around.
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In the case of Coolamon woman Jenny Hill, her support of fund-raising campaigns for people needing financial help with medical emergencies in her town was rewarded when she faced her own crisis.
At 11.38am on Thursday, Mrs Hill received a telephone call saying she had seven hours to be in Sydney for a kidney transplant.
Caught short of cash for an airfare from Wagga to Sydney, she telephoned Bill Thompson, a trustee of Coolamon Shire's community benefit fund.
The fund was set up six years ago to provide emergency finance for people who need support immediately.
Within minutes, the assistance was granted and then staff of Commins Hendriks and Coolamon Shire Council secured Mrs Hill's flight to Sydney leaving Wagga late Thursday afternoon.
The fund has paid for Mrs Hill's plane ticket and put money into her bank account for taxi fares in Sydney.
"I am just overwhelmed; I'm so excited," 56-year-old Mrs Hill said as she hurriedly packed for the trip that will change her life.
"It's all happened so quickly."
Mrs Hill was expected to undergo her kidney transplant on Thursday night at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Four months after her 72-year-old mother was diagnosed with renal failure, Mrs Hill discovered she had the same condition.
"I thought I would go 20 years without dialysis, but I was on it in 12 months," Mrs Hill said.
She has been on dialysis for the past six years, travelling to Wagga three times a week for dialysis that takes five-and-a-half hours.
Mrs Hill is expected to come off dialysis immediately.
She said it would probably take time to come to grips with not having to undertake the time-consuming treatment.
"I will have my life back," she said.
She said she was grateful for the support she was given in a heartbeat.
"There are a lot of friends and beautiful people in Coolamon," Mrs Hill said.
Mr Thompson said the community benefit fund had provided more than $44,000 to 12 families over the past six years.
"Generally, we have assisted families as soon as the need arose so they did not have to wait for money from fund-raisers," Mr Thompson said.
"On occasions, the fund has been reimbursed after the families get back on their feet."
The fund is a Section 355 committee of council.
"I think it is a model for other communities," Mr Thompson said.