Crippled womans gets help

Press, 20 December 1986, Page 2

Crippled womans gets help

A crippled woman whose Redwood house was destroyed by fire on Monday will face a brighter Christmas after all.

Friends, neighbours, and retailers have rallied round Mrs Margaret Coulbeck, aged 56, who lost everything she owned in the fire.

The Housing Corporation has arranged another house for Mrs Coulbeck, in Redgrave Street, Hoon Hay. A carpenter will work there today to install facilities for the disabled.

Mrs Coulbeck said yesterday that an elderly woman had given her two budgerigars to replace one which died in the fire.

“Everyone has been so nice, including a lot of people I don’t even know.”

Her son, Mr lan Coulbeck, aged 19, rescued her from the fire in their corporation house in

Primrose Street early Monday morning. A battery used to power her wheelchair is believed to have started the fire. It had been recharging -overnight in the lounge, which was where the fire started. Mrs Coulbeck had lived in Primrose Street for 33 years. None of her possessions were insured. She said that since the fire friends and strangers had sent her cheques and gifts, such as linen. Neighbours had held a collection in the street, Smith’s City Market had given her a lounge suite, Super Value had given her $2OO of grocery coupons, and retailers at Riccarton Mall had set up an appeal. Mrs Coulbeck said that the fire was a big shock to her. “I cannot imagine that it happened — it was like watching a movie.”