He was towing a horse float through Singleton when he struck some trouble just near the Gowrie Gates (the hole in the wall) along the New England Highway adjacent to Singleton Heights midday last Saturday.

He was on his way to the Ilala Horse Stud at Scone to have his mare, Dawn Lady, serviced by one of the stud horses Teehrico.

He struck some engine problems while approaching the derelict piece of road infrastructure and Mr Macdonald found himself in need of reversing to stop in a safer position on the side of the road.

On doing so he jack-knifed the trailer and says he was in desperate need of assistance.

That assistance came in the shape of young mother of two, Amber Stockdale.

She stopped her car and asked Mr Macdonald if he needed help.

She too has a love of horses and was worried about the mare’s welfare in that the float was precariously close to a dip on the side of the road.

Amber promised to get help and returned with Ian Gardiner who presented a tow rope and proceeded to move the car and float to a safer position

“I had driven past when heading into town and on my way back I noticed that he was still there and no one had stopped to help him,” she explained.

The trio did more than just get the gentleman and his mare to safety.

Local Bill Paul arrived and disconnected the horse float and attached it to his ute and then drove the visitor and his horse to their destination.

Not only that, Bill then accompanied Mr Macdonald back to Scone on Sunday and made sure the mare returned safely to his horse paddock in Maitland.

“I was in desperate need and all these people on the highway just kept driving past until young Amber,” Mr Macdonald said.

“Then she got me help and they couldn’t do enough for me.

“Good luck to you wonderful people there,” he said.

Wanting to return the favour to Amber, Mr Macdonald arranged to meet with her and take a look at a horse she wanted broken in.

“I am so grateful to this girl for assisting me and really want to return the favour,” he said.

Mr Macdonald does have a connection with Singleton in that he worked as a photo journalist for about six months during his career.

He said the people of Singleton should cherish its community spirit.