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2019/20 Bushfire Crisis - how to support, information

League Unlimited News

League Unlimited News

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As you all will be aware, there is an unfolding bushfire crisis in SE Australia, particularly on the NSW South Coast, Snowy Mountains / Australian Alps, and East/Northeast Victoria.

If you're not directly involved but want to help, there are a number of ways you can do so.

Donate to the NSW RFS
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/support-your-local-brigade

Donate to the VIC CFA
https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa#donate-cash

Donate to / fundraise for the Red Cross Disaster Relief & Recovery Appeal
https://fundraise.redcross.org.au/event/fundraise-for-disaster-relief-and-recovery

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The CFA and RFS sites also carry links to emergency information as fires continue to burn. If you're out and about near any fire areas, make sure you know the ABC channel for your area - http://reception.abc.net.au

Vic Emergency hotline 1800 226 226
RFS NSW bushfire information line 1800 679 737
 
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NRL community rallies to bushfire cause as Raiders forced to switch training

NRL.com
Sun 5 Jan 2020, 03:26 PM
The rugby league community has rallied in response to Australia’s bushfire crisis while the Raiders have been forced to switch Monday’s return to pre-season training indoors due to the smoke blanketing Canberra.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg posted a message of support on Twitter to all the people who have been battling the blazes.

“On behalf of the entire Rugby League community we send our thoughts to everyone across the nation who has been impacted by the bushfires. To all the fireys, volunteers, police, defence force, & emergency services we extend our appreciation & thanks,” he wrote.

“We're working with all our Clubs, States & @NRL players & @RLPlayers & plenty of former players on a coordinated program to support our communities affected by the bushfires.

“It will ensure the entire game & all our fans can be part of it & make a real impact-Will keep you posted.”

The Raiders were due to have a field session but have opted to train indoors on Monday as they return after the Christmas break.

A club spokesman said they were considering relocating their training set-up away from Canberra for the next 10 days but they would not make a decision until Monday at the earliest.

Raiders recruit Curtis Scott is one of several NRL players who are raising funds for the bushfire cause.

Scott has set up a gofundme page, contributing $5000 of his own money, ina bid to raise $25,000.

“Hey everyone let’s all come together and dig deep by donating Anything you can to all of those affected by the bush fires.

People/families have lost loved ones and homes and belongings during this tough time, I couldn’t imagine enduring this.”

The tally was closing in on $20,000 on Sunday afternoon.

Retired Jillaroos Star Allana Ferguson has been active raising money and collecting donations for the South Coast town of Lake Conjola.

After getting so many items donated - enough to fill three semi-trailers - they had to request no more because of the logistics involved in getting them to the picturesque Shoalhaven township.

Ferguson posted on Instagram on Saturday to say $50,000 had been raised and they were hoping to reach $75,000.


Jillaroos forward Millie Boyle has also set up a gofundme account to raise money for the South Coast town of Cobargo which has been devastated by the fires.

"We don’t know how long it will take to rebuild our town, but we have to start somewhere," she wrote in her Instagram post.


Dragons centre Euan Aitken is auctioning an autographed Anzac Day jersey on eBay to raise funds for the Rural Fire Service.


Sharks halfback Chad Townsend is also staging a silent auction of an autographed Cronulla jersey for the RFS.


Titans hooker Nathan Peats and his wife Jade also pledged over the weekend to donate 50% of the profits from their clothing brand Jaded Republic to the bushfire relief efforts.


Penrith have announced they will hold a firefighter fundraiser on Saturday with an open training session and free barbecue breakfast at Panthers Stadium.


STORY LINK: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/01/05...e-cause-as-raiders-forced-to-switch-training/
 
League Unlimited News

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The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have looked to rally around the areas affected by the recent Bushfires and those affected by the long term drought by working with the Canterbury League Club to donate $50,000 to assist in the recovery.

The Bulldogs will also use their pre-season trip to Port Macquarie to take on the Raiders on Saturday 29th February, to see how they can best assist the relief efforts.


The club has a strong link with the Far North Coast having formed a partnership last season to assist the development of the game in the region. Both the Bulldogs and Raiders will look to get out into the community during the trip and help raise funds for the relief appeal.

The Bulldogs have also been working closely with the NRL and NSWRL and recently sent Terry Lamb and Kieran Foran on a trip organised by Brad Fittler to visit Taree which was one of the areas affected most by the Bushfires.

Bulldogs Chief Executive Andrew Hill said that the club had been in close contact with the NRL about how best to assist with the relief efforts :

“As a club our heart goes out to all those affected by the Bushfires and drought and I know that everyone at the Bulldogs and all of our fans are in awe of the efforts of not just the Rural Fire Service, but all the emergency services as they continue to fight these bushfires and limit the damage to the communities involved.

We are looking at ways that we can help and realise that this is a crucial time right now as lives and communities are affected.

We will continue to have close dialogue with the NRL and look to best support all of the relief efforts that are taking place.”
 
Captain Apollo

Captain Apollo

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From the ABC News website -

Plea for people to stop donating goods directly to 'overwhelmed' fire-affected communities
By Michelle Brown
Updated 58 minutes ago

The generosity of people keen to help fire-ravaged communities is causing what the NSW Government has dubbed "a second disaster".

The NSW Office of Emergency Management (OEM) said towns struggling in the aftermath of the fires were having to deal with unsolicited donations of toys, clothes and furniture, which were not needed.

OEM spokesman Jeremy Hillman described the deluge of goods as potentially a "second disaster".

He said well-meaning donors were unintentionally putting stress on those trying to recover from the crisis.

"Unfortunately, what usually happens is local communities become overwhelmed very quickly with donated goods," he said.

"Individuals think that that's the best way to help, to fill up a car or a truck or a shipping container with clothes, furniture and toys, but the reality is hundreds, if not thousands of people start to do that and then converge on these impacted areas.

"They have nowhere to store the goods, nobody to sort them and ultimately these goods don't get to the people anyway."

Victoria is grappling with the same problem, prompting Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville to urge the community to donate cash instead.

Ms Neville said one East Gippsland community had received about 10,000 apples, when what they needed was money.

"We do not need any more food, we do not need any more clothes. Give money … support the local businesses and the communities."

The OEM said some local communities still needed food, water and other supplies, but that cash donations were the best way to help.

Clogging community halls is also a problem.

"In small communities, the hall is the only place that these people have to come together for recovery meetings to catch up with each other or to hold their own events and activities," Mr Hillman said.

How you can help:
"We see all over NSW that these halls get filled up to the roof, and at the same time the community has nowhere to come together while it's full."

In the past week, star power has sparked massive donations to help fund firefighters and recovery efforts.

Pop star Pink, and actor Nicole Kidman have both pledged $500,000, while comedian Celeste Barber's appeal has raised more than $40 million.

Nearly $35,000,000 has been donated to the Red Cross Disaster Response and Recovery Fund since New Year's Eve.

This week, it will start processing applications for grants of $5,000 from people whose homes have been destroyed.
Click to expand...
 
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NRL Bushfire Response Update
National Rugby League | January 8 2020 11:13AM

The National Rugby League, state leagues, clubs and the players' association have joined together to form a consolidated whole of game response to help Australia's bushfire affected communities.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said internal teams across all governing bodies had been created to focus on a coordinated approach that will provide practical assistance to Australians in need.

The NRL has begun discussions with government and charitable agencies to determine what kind of assistance communities need most and will use those briefings to formulate the most effective response possible.

Round One of the NRL will be a dedicated Bushfire Appeal Round to raise money for victims and honour emergency services personnel and volunteers.

Mr Greenberg said he had spoken with a number of chief executives and players in recent days who want to assist communities destroyed by bushfires.

"Our clubs and our players have so many links to these communities which have been impacted by these devastating bushfires," Mr Greenberg said.

"Everyone I have spoken to wants to make a difference, we all want to help. The most effective and efficient way to do that is together in one coordinated response - a response that is both meaningful and provides communities with the assistance they need as they repair and rebuild.

"We know that rugby league is an integral part of these communities and we can make a real difference when our various bodies work together as one and that's exactly what we are doing - from country rugby league right up to our elite NRL clubs."

NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said a number of State of Origin stars had visited bushfire affected regions prior to Christmas and players wanted to do more to assist in the coming weeks.

"Rugby league is part of the social fabric of so many of these communities. We owe it to these communities to make a practical difference. That's why we are working together so we can provide the most effective assistance possible," he said.

"We are committed to providing support to those in the affected communities who can and want to play the game they love and be able to do so in the upcoming season."

QRL Managing Director Robert Moore said the game was looking at long term assistance.

"The bushfire disaster spans well beyond the current emergency. These communities will need our assistance long term. That's why we are looking at a whole of game response, across all levels that addresses long and short term assistance," he said.

RLPA chief executive Ian Prendergast said players had been deeply impacted by the bushfire emergency.

"So many of our players have friends and families who have been caught up in the disaster. They want to help and are committed to developing a range of initiatives that provide genuine support to those in need. I'm so pleased that as a game we are working together on a coordinated response," he said.

"Rugby league is a giant community and we can do so much for so many when we work together.



https://leagueunlimited.com/news/34323-nrl-bushfire-response-update/
 
The Fanatical Rooster

The Fanatical Rooster

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I only visited K.I. about 12 months ago. Loved the place. It is so sad to see what has transpired there over the past couple of weeks. I hope that the towns and their populations can recover. Obviously, tourism is such a big part of life there. I wish everyone there well.
 
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