Our names are Belinda and Albert Poini and I'm hoping our local community can help my dear friends of over 40 plus years during their time of need.
We’re asking for help for long-time Wingham residents — Carmen and Ron Spriggs.
Not many people know that Ron is currently battling stage 4 cancer, and he’s doing it tough. Years of working in the sun at local swimming pools have led to skin cancers that have now spread to various parts of his body — including his spine.
Ron and Carmen have to travel to Newcastle several times a week for treatment, along with specialist appointments in Sydney. During one of these recent trips, Carmen’s car completely broke down, leaving them without transport — making it even harder to keep up with Ron’s vital medical appointments.
If you’ve lived in Wingham or the Manning Valley for a while, you probably know Ron. He’s been a stalwart of the local community for decades — the kind of person who’s always first to lend a hand, volunteer his time, and quietly get things done.
Ron has managed swimming pools in Wingham, Taree, Gloucester, and Krambach, as well as in Sydney at the University Pool, Victoria Park Pool, and Leichhardt Pool.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, he ran the Wingham Pool, creating a safe, welcoming space for generations of local kids to learn to swim, spend their summers, and make memories. For many families, the pool was more than a place to cool off — it was the heart of the community.
Over the years, he’s also given countless hours to local sporting clubs, particularly the Wingham Tigers Junior Rugby League, before his health began to decline. Even in recent years, despite serious health challenges, Ron continued to give back.
Last summer, he led the Friends of Wingham Pool, a volunteer community group that tendered and then successfully ran the Wingham Pool, helping bring it back under local management and ensuring a new generation of families could enjoy the same experiences so many of us had in our younger days.
Even while his health has been deteriorating, Ron has continued to fight for our pool knowing the benefits it brings to so many people.
Beyond his work at the pools, Ron has always supported others — including helping with various GoFundMe campaigns for locals in need over the years. He’s also been a passionate advocate for DonateLife, raising awareness about the importance of organ donation after receiving his own life-saving heart transplant nearly 14 years ago.
Now, it’s our turn to give back to Ron and Carmen.
For years, Ron has put everyone else first — putting off home maintenance and repairs, always saying he’d get to them when he had time. But now, he simply doesn’t have the energy or strength to do those jobs himself.
We’re raising funds to help them with:
Getting back on the road —replacement of their car so they can travel for treatment
Essential home repairs and ramps to make the house safer and easier for Ron to access
Financial support to ease the burden while they focus on his treatment and comfort
Ron has dedicated his life to this community — running pools, encouraging kids, supporting local causes, and keeping Wingham’s community spirit alive. Now, it’s our chance to show him and Carmen that same care and kindness in return.
Any donation — big or small — will make a real difference. And if you’re local, donations of time, skills, or materials are also deeply appreciated. Whether it’s lending a hand with a repair, contributing toward a car, or sharing this page to spread the word, every bit helps.
From all of us who’ve swum, played, and grown up under Ron’s care — thank you for helping us give back to a truly deserving couple.
