Rebuilding walls ...rebuilding lives

HELPING hands . . . Becky Jones

A PAIR of Oldham rugby stars are helping rebuild flood-ravaged homes in Australia.

England international Becky Jones (26) and Roy Jewitt (38) who played for Waterhead, have met with their local mayors in Australia to discuss plans to make essential repairs in Toowoomba and Goodna, Queensland — devastated by freak floods in early January.

Becky, who co-owns a property maintenance company, has teamed up with Roy who has a building firm, to work free of charge to help out.

Joiner Roy, who left Oldham for New South Wales 15 years ago and is now player-coach for Australian side Young, is taking a team of 35 men north to help rebuild as many homes as possible.

Insurance in Queensland doesn’t cover flooding so many people have been left homeless and the evacuation centres, which housed people temporarily, are now closed.

Becky said: “We thought it would be a good thing to do as some people have been left with nothing.

“We have been going round seeing what work needs doing and we’re aiming to rebuild walls that have been damaged and put up homes that people can use as a base.

“We’re hoping to do basic repairs, rebuild walls and put up basic shelters.”

Roy Jewitt senior (Roy’s dad) said: “I think what Roy’s doing is fantastic. Someone has sponsored a bus for them all to go up and they’ve been doing raffles to raise money for food supplies.”

Trees and power lines were blown over and buildings damaged after a category two storm hit Queensland but residents are preparing for more misery as Cyclone Yasi approaches.

Becky, who’s newly-built house survived the floods added: “Now we’ve just got to survive the cyclone that is heading our way!”