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Support for Fire Victims Overwhelming It’s the big heartedness of the Gippsland community which is setting new records this week. By Latrobe City - 13th February 2009 - Back to News Latrobe City mayor Councillor Lisa Price, said that since bushfires devastated the communities of Darlimurla, Boolarra, Yinnar and Mirboo North, charity stores and emergency relief agencies had been inundated by donations of material good and household items.
"While donations have been gratefully received, relief and charity agencies have requested that the community refrain from providing further items at this time.
"The volume of goods donated has been unprecedented and aid agencies are struggling to cope with the influx.
"While this is a magnificent response it has become unmanageable and efforts to catalogue and store the donations are starting to impact on the time available to work with fire victims," Cr Price said.
Cr Price said that there will be appeals in the future for certain goods and household items.
"Teams of staff are currently moving through the fire affected areas assessing the impact, detailing losses and talking to residents about their immediate needs.
"This information is being processed by Latrobe City Council and will form part of a recovery plan - a guide which will help us to get the community back on its feet.
"Then, when we know what we need and how much – we will again call upon the Gippsland community for assistance."
Cr Price said that those members of the community who wish to provide immediate support can do so by making a donation to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund.
"The GERF will then direct that assistance to the most urgent and significantly impacted areas of our community.
"Without a doubt the response from the Gippsland community has been astonishing.
"Every day we’re amazed by the generosity - the true altruistic spirit of this community," Cr Price concluded.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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