FIVE months on from January’s Longwood bushfires, fire-affected residents of the Strathbogie and Mitchell Shires have received a major boost with nearly $200,000 of proceeds from the Tones & I Bushfire Recovery concert being donated to the Strathbogie Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).
The community run Bushfire Recovery concert was spearheaded by a local campaign “Bring Tones & I to Longwood” which caught the global star’s attention and attracted 5000 to the Longwood oval to support their friends, families and strangers in their road to recovery after the devastating January fires.
The efforts of the volunteer committee, local footy club, the CFA and the $25,000 State Government grant secured by Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland meant that the proceeds of the concert (including a $25,000 donation from Tones & I’s ticket sales) were available to be donated.
Alister Purbrick, SDRF Community Advisory Committee member, said the committee is extremely grateful for this huge donation, which has come at a vital time.
“The long road to recovery feels even longer at this time of year, with the cold and wet weather making being out of home, without one’s creature comforts, particularly confronting,” he said.
”The Fund has already distributed over $250,000 to those in our communities who need it, and the $190,000 donation from the Tones & I concert has meant we are in a really strong position to have a much greater impact with how we help.”
A voluntary committee with deep connections to the region, Purbrick says these donations will help the SDRF stay focused and driven in providing some relief where it’ll matter most.
“We’ve been working with specially formed Community Recovery Committees to identify key areas of need – restoration of community halls, repairs to private infrastructure, and social initiatives that support the wellbeing of fire-affected residents across both Shires,” he said.
“Although we can’t cover the full cost of what these communities need to rebuild, we can offer hope – by staying on the ground, representing them, continuing to seek donations, and then providing grants to support community agreed priority projects.”
Having received nearly $1 million thanks to the donations of businesses and private individuals across Australia, the Fund is urging people to consider contributing before the end of financial year – for the tax benefit, and for those in the country who are still doing it tough.