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Fund Getting The Job Done For GippslandThe Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) has raised more than $210,000 for families impacted by the recent natural disasters in Gippsland. By Gippsland Water - 27th March 2007 - Back to News The fund is providing financial support to people affected by the December /January bushfires, as well as the flood and mudslide events which caused chaos across parts of Central Gippsland recently.
These donations, totalling $214,465 have come from private individuals, community groups as well as local business and industry. Donations have been received from as far away as Melbourne, Mildura, and Western Australila.
The fund has so far issued cheques totalling $205,296 to 164 families severely affected by bushfire, flood, or mudslide events. These have been made to families within Baw Baw, Latrobe, Wellington and East Gippsland shires. A large number of referrals are currently being assessed to determine their eligibility for grants.
Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund Hon Secretary Andy Tegart said the fund has provided money to every family who lost their principal place of residence during the bushfires.
"We have financially assisted those who lost their primary homes, and we are still receiving assessments of areas of greatest need. We can only give out what we get in, which is why donations are so important. The response so far has been fantastic.
"The distribution of funds is based on the greatest need and gaps in government grants as a result of assessments conduced by the Department of Human Services and local government," he added.
Fundraising has included seeking donations at Australia Day events at Ryde, Mornington and Briagolong, while the Yarragon Traders donated 10 per cent of one weekend’s trade to GERF, raising $10,046. Shell Australia has contributed $25,000 to the cause, while Melbourne radio station Triple M raised $26,400 for GERF through a fundraiser comedy event.
Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund President, John Mitchell, said the fundraising is continuing, with the fund experiencing wonderful support from the community and businesses.
"Many people are chipping in to help the recovery effort. Donations are coming in from mums and dads, business and industry. We’ve also had great support from our local media in promoting the fund. The bushfires were horrendous. The heavy rain onto bare earth created mudslides and flashflooding, with Licola particularly hard hit. All this on top of a loss in tourism revenue.’’
Gippslanders, however, have once again demonstrated their strong community spirit, while people from outside our region have shown they understand how devastating these bushfires, floods and mudslides have been and have stepped forward to organise funding events,’’ Mr Mitchell said.
The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund would like to thank the following corporate bodies for their donations:
- Gippsland Audiology Services
- Veolia Environmental Services
- Shell Australia
- Yarragon Traders
- Loy Yang Power
- International Power – Hazelwood
- Tru Energy Yallourn
- Loy Yang B
- RTL Joint Venture
- Australian Paper Mill – Maryvale
- McNair Hurle Latrobe Insurance Brokers
- I-Med Regional Imaging Gippsland
- Triple M
- Monash University Gippsland
- LV Printers
- Ecogen Energy
- Wemyss Struss
Donations can be made via the post or at any National Australia Bank in Gippsland. Donation cheques can be posted to PO Box 508, Traralgon, 3844. All donations are tax deductible.
The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund has raised and distributed more than $1.4 million since it began in 1977, including $150,000 after the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, and a combined $835,000 for floods that hit Gippsland in 1990, 1993, and 1998. The fund also provided more than $150,000 to victims of the East Gippsland bushfires in 2002-03.
For more information about the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund telephone 5176 1362 or 5177 4635.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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