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Byron Shire
June 7, 2026

Community rallies for Timmy’s recovery

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Cartoon of the week – 3 June, 2026

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Timothy Hanley and Michelle Popple. Photo Eve Jeffery

There is nothing like the warm embrace of community to provide healing, and that’s certainly been the case for local Timothy Hanley. 

Tim had a tragic fall from a ladder four months ago, which resulted in a burst fracture to his L1 vertebra. 

He is currently in a wheelchair, unable to walk. 

After spinal surgery, Tim has been released from a long initial rehab in the Spinal Injury Unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. While he has a long road to recovery ahead, it hasn’t been easy moving back home to Mullum

Tim and his partner, Michelle Popple (who you may know as one of our fabulous local midwives), were horrendously flooded in the 2022 floods. Their Mullumbimby home is still in disarray after being extensively damaged and their insurance company are failing to pay up. 

Despite those challenges, he is very positive, and ready to work hard to try and get back up and walking again in the future. 

Friends and loved ones have pulled together a huge fundraiser campaign, called Timmy’s Road to Recovery, which will also help with the home renovation and modifications needed to accommodate Tim’s wheelchair.

$18,000 prize pool

A community fundraiser event is planned at the Common People Brewery in Bangalow on December 2, where $2 from every beer sold will be donated to the fund. 

A huge online raffle with a prize pool of $18,000 is on offer: www.rafflelink.com.au/timmys-fundraiser.

The winners will be announced on the evening, and there’s also be some impressive auction items up for grabs plus activities for the kids!

While adjusting to life back in Mullum and in between rehab sessions, Timmy has also designed some merch that will be for sale at the event, featuring his well-known sign off ‘you are loved’.

The funds raised are to support Tim in his huge recovery and the many modifications to his home to help him live actively and comfortably moving forward, five per cent of proceeds will be going to the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation to aid in the research towards spinal injury treatment.

Merch and raffle tickets are available at store.elevenanchors.com.

Story provided by Tim’s friends and family.



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