SA raises more than $500,000 for victims of Adelaide Hills bushfire
Two weeks after the devastating Cudlee Creek fires, South Australian people and communities have dug deep to help the victims.
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In times of crisis, communities come together.
Since family homes, wineries and farming properties burned to the ground in the Cudlee Creek bushfires last month, South Australians have done exactly that.
Some bravely volunteered to fight the flames, others opened their doors and properties to people and animals seeking refuge, and many donated all they could afford at Christmas.
Today, two weeks since the intense blaze ripped through the region, people from across the state continue to rally around Hills residents.
South Australian individuals and corporates have pledged more than $500,000 towards the relief effort.
The State Government last week kickstarted the official SA Emergency Relief Fund with a $1 million pledge. That amount has been boosted by an extra $445,000 from 1000 community donations.
Charities and numerous privately organised GoFundMe pages have also attracted pledges worth tens of thousands of dollars. One initiative on GoFundMe, the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal, has raised more than $30,000. Another GoFundMe page has raised nearly $40,000.
A collective sum of all the money pledged is almost impossible to calculate, but conservative estimates put the figure well north of $500,000.
Salvation Army SA spokesman Mark Foyle said he was blown away by the generosity of people wanting to help.
“I know of a very large donation coming in on Christmas Eve,” he said. “Tens of thousands, somebody walked into one of our stores wanting to make the donation.”
Mr Foyle said Salvation Army chefs, busy feeding hungry firefighters, were being handed cash by people desperate to make a difference.
Almost 90 homes and 500 other buildings were destroyed by the fire, which claimed the life of 69-year-old Ron Selth.
Police found Mr Selth’s body in his home, which was gutted by the blaze as it tore through Charleston.
Thousands of hectares of vineyards were also destroyed, crippling winemakers. Cherry and pear farmers were hit hard, too.
The fire, which is still active, was finally contained on New Year’s Eve.
Chef Duncan Welgemoed hopes to raise a “heap of money” for the CFS and Hills wineries later this month, when seven curated dinners go up for auction.
Welgemoed, of Africola, was overwhelmed with support from industry friends when he announced that he would auction two “once-in-a-lifetime” private dinners.
Now, seven culinary events will feature some of the hottest names in food and drinks, including Ben Cooper of Melbourne cult Thai restaurant Chin Chin, Shannon Martinez of Smith & Daughters and Morgan McGlone of Belle’s Hot Chicken, as well as Adelaide’s own Shannon Fleming (Lot 100) and Emma McCaskill (Sparkke at the Whitmore).
“A lot of my friends were affected by the fires … I don’t have the skills to fight fires, but I know how to whip up support from my community,” Mr Welgemoed said.
Bidding will start at $5000 at a gala event called SA4SA, on January 31.
Meanwhile, young siblings Amalie, Xavier and Remy Morrison donated almost $450 from a lemonade stand. The Glenelg East trio gave the cash to the Vinnies SA bushfire appeal.
Sara Morrison said her children were determined to help.
“I don’t think they really understand how much money that is, but we’re very happy to be helping people,” she said.
Fire victims with uninsured homes that were damaged or destroyed are eligible to receive up to $20,000 from the state and federal governments.
Up to $10,000 is being offered to eligible homeowners and tenants to replace essential items while another $10,000 grant is available to eligible homeowners to help repair their properties.
For more information, visit dhs.sa.gov.au/recovery.
Lemonade stand aginst bushfires
When life gave Amalie, Xavier and Remy Morrison lemons, they made lemonade.
The Glenelg East siblings banded together to raise much needed funds for bushfire victims across the state, selling fresh lemonade to neighbours in their lemonade stall.
Amalie, 8, designed the stall in a drawing and helped her grandfather build it for the holiday season.
The children’s mother, Sara Morrison said she and her husband Josh suggested the kids donate their lemonade stand’s takings to the bushfire relief fund.
“After smelling the fires on Monday we talked about the people who had lost their homes and all of their belongings,” Ms Morrison said.
“The children agreed to hold a stall to raise money to help families affected by the fire.”
The siblings, Amalie, Xavier, 6 and Remy, 3 together rode their bicycles around the neighbourhood last week delivering handwritten invitations. Guests were encouraged to bring their own cup to their lemonade stall held on Christmas Eve.
Between 50 and 80 people came along for a glass of lemonade, donating a gold coin or more on the day, and their profits were just shy of $450.
Ms Morrison said she was proud of her children’s achievements.
The donations were made to the Vinnies SA bushfire appeal.