Rotary Friends,
Following the Wooroloo Bushfires in February, Rotary has been active across the State and the Nation to support many who have lost so much.
Over $400,000 was collected between RAWCS and Rotary District/ Club support. Many of those of whom we supported in the East have reciprocated – the Rotary network is an absolute wonder to behold – thank you everyone.
Our work has been influenced by those who have gone before, East Gippsland and South Australian Rotary teams have advised us, which enabled us to hit the ground running to provide immediate support and our assistance has been in three areas:
- Storage Sea Containers to site in the fire scar to securely store necessities,
- Building Tool Libraries for continued work long into the future, and
- Supporting BlazeAid and the requirement to build perimeter fences to secure places & livestock.
The container list grew quickly, and 33 containers have been acquired with 17 delivered thus far and shortly we should have the delivery list to 26. The Container team have been magnificent with local personnel assisting on the ground to identify some extremely difficult access issues.
After four months we are bringing the Container phase to an end and will move into the Tool Library phase.
Working with The Minderoo Foundation, the Tool Libraries are being purchased and fitted out supporting Minderoo’s Accommodation Pods and our Storage Containers where people have lost so much but need to do so much more.
Our Project Manager for the Rotary Tool Libraries is building systems of work with people, process, and appropriate sites for the Libraries. We are supported magnificently by both the City of Swan and the Shire of Mundaring in this important sub-project. The Tool Libraries have the potential to be a special Community focus for gathering and chatting to neutral humans as part of the healing process.
That leaves the third avenue of our service – fencing. We support BlazeAid by providing support to the volunteer camp, fencing supplies where others are unable so they could put them up and to those worthy recipients who just want to build their own and the array of materials required varies extensively where horses are concerned.
The delivery of fencing supplies has moved to a process of procurement and delivery from manufacturer to recipient site and cutting out the double handling. We have learnt much!
You can all be very proud of the Rotary progress in distributing the generous funds in a most equitable manner, quickly and efficiently, to those who have lost so much.
Peter Durrant Chair WA Rotary Bushfire Relief | |
 | 0419 931 451 |