In the lead up to this weekend’s Coates Hire Ipswich 300 at Queensland Raceway, Dunlop V8 Supercar Series driver and current Bathurst champion, Nick Percat visited the recently refurbished Coates Hire branch in Ipswich to meet the team, their customers, enjoy a celebratory barbeque and show them the Peter Brock trophy – the prize for winning Bathurst.
The floodwaters that devastated most of southern Queensland in January 2011 rose to within a metre of the Coates Hire branch.
While they were spared the carnage that affected so many others, the Coates Hire team worked tirelessly to arrange vital plant and equipment to help with the flood disaster and the enormous clean up operation that followed.
Once the initial crisis had been overcome, rebuilding Ipswich became the prime focus.
On visiting the Coates Hire store Nick Percat, who will race in the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series support events this weekend said:
"To see what they’ve done here in Ipswich and the massive rebuilding of the community, its impressive how quickly its come along and learn about how this store played a big part in that.”
Looking back, the Coates Hire team is proud of their achievement in the face of extreme adversity, having played a major part in the rebuilding of the township and community.
Reflecting on the floods, Steve Bowmer - Coates Hire, South East region Product Specialist said:
“It makes you feel very proud that you can be part of the town recovery and help the community to rebuild. What’s been so inspiring is the amount of help by people around the region with everyone pitching in, especially throughout the company as well, everyone lent a hand.
"It didn’t matter if it was night or day Saturday or Sunday and it makes you proud to be a part of the company”.
Coates Hire continues to support the Ipswich community in many ways, including their sponsorship of the Coates Hire Ipswich 300, which brings the V8 Supercar Championship to the area, boosting tourism and generating income for local businesses.
The Coates Hire 300 is at Queensland Raceway August 3-5. Nick Percat will participate in the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series events.
