NBA star Patty Mills pays for emergency water for Walgett

The rural town of Walgett has been begging for rain for more than a year. And their prayers were answered, not from mother nature, but from NBA star Patty Mills, who flew to the town in a secret mission to provide them with clean water.

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EXCLUSIVE: The parched town of Walgett has been begging for rain for more than a year — but the locals never expected their prayers would be answered in the form of Australian NBA basketballer Patty Mills.

In a secret mission to the western NSW town this week, Mills flew into town with a chequebook to pay out of his own pocket for emergency water.

The veteran San Antonio Spurs point guard is a proud Australian and indigenous man, so he jumped at the chance to help the struggling community.

NBA star Patty Mills came to the rescue for the town of Walgett. Picture: David Swift

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Mills mingled with locals while he was mobbed at one stage with locals keen to get his signature.

He is working with the community on an initiative to provide clean drinking water, with the full details to be unveiled next month.

Walgett’s deputy mayor Ian Woodcock told The Sunday Telegraph that the NBA star had a profound impact on the local people.

He met with the local kids.

As well as the elderly.

The visit has lifted the spirits of the entire community.

“Patty Mills gave everyone a big boost,” Woodcock said.

“It has been tough but people’s spirits have been lifted because they know that people like Patty care and want to help. It puts a smile on people’s faces.

“It just shows you the calibre of the person that Patty is.

“Anyone that is prepared to stand up and do things — not just talk — is fantastic. He is a doer.”

Already reeling from the worst drought in decades, Walgett was further rocked early last month when its only supermarket burned to the ground.

The tragedy placed significant pressure on the town’s food and water supplies, with the Barwon and Namoi rivers running low.

Mills and his partner Alyssa Levesque.

He jumped at the chance to help. Picture: David Swift

Walgett has had to rely on the town’s bore water for essentials, as well as deliveries of packaged water from donations transported by individuals.

The NSW government has also promised packaged water deliveries to ensure Walgett has clean drinking water for the long-term.

In the meantime, the Dharriwaa Elders Group (DEG) has been a godsend for the local Walgett community.

The group, in conjunction with the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, has hired casual employees to deliver donated water to homes.

With the assistance of the University of NSW, the DEG are also aiming to convince the NSW government to provide the town with a desalination system and high-quality chilled drinking water kiosks in high-use public areas.