PRESS STATEMENT

Following the extensive bushfires which have occurred in central western NSW recently, the Rotary Club of Mudgee and Mudgee Sunrise have jointly sponsored and established a fund to assist individuals and families suffering significant loss and distress caused by the fires.

The fund has been established through the Rotary Australia Benevolent Society – an arm of Rotary Australia World Community Service – and has been listed as a charitable fund. This means it has Deductible Gift Recipient status so that donations made to it are tax deductible.

“Moneys donated to the fund will be used to assist those who have exhausted any assistance available from Government and Insurance resources following the Sir Ivan, Kains Flat and other fires in the Mid-Western Regional, Upper Hunter and Warrumbungle regions” the Project Manager, Margaret Barnes of the Rotary Club of Mudgee Sunrise, said today. “At last count 31 houses had been lost, as had 104 outbuildings and an unknown but significant number of livestock. The village of Uarbry, decimated by the Sir Ivan fire, lost 9 of its 12 houses and its church” she added.

District Governor of Rotary District 9670 Stephen Jackson drove through the area the day after the Golden Highway was re-opened and said “This is an area well known to me. I had driven through it only 3 days before and it was well-grassed but obviously dry. When I returned the country around the Golden Highway was just black, kilometre after kilometre of fencing was damaged or missing, and there was almost no fodder available for the livestock which had survived. There is a huge need for support”.

Dunedoo Lions Club and the Rural Financial Counselling Service have agreed to work with the sponsoring clubs.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service will make recommendations as to the people most in need of benevolent relief. The Service is a not for profit organisation which is already working with people impacted by the fires and will be a valuable and impartial resource in assisting the project deliver to those most in need.

Individuals, Rotary and other clubs and similar organisations, and corporate entities are urged to contribute to this tax deductible and charitable benevolent fund to assist in relieving the suffering of those who have and are continuing to experience personal trauma and property loss.

Donations can be made through an online process.

The Project Sponsors thank donors for their support