News Corp Australia grants continue to aid communities affected by bushfires

News Corp Australia has announced the next round of grants from the ongoing support fund to aid the recovery of bushfire-affected communities.

• Bushfire $1m recovery fund helping communities

Months after Australia’s bushfire crisis left communities devastated and wildlife populations destroyed, there is hope on the horizon for those left reeling in the aftermath.

News Corp Australia has today announced the next round of grants from the ongoing support fund to aid the recovery of bushfire-affected communities.

Recipients include the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital on Queensland’s Gold Coast, which will use the $48,000 donation to purchase a multipurpose rescue 4WD that will play an important role in rehabilitating injured native animals.

A koala that was treated for burns during the bushfires at the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“The new vehicle will provide exceptional quality transport and facilities to aid our staff in giving injured wildlife the best chance of survival possible,” said foundation director at the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Whitney Luzzo-Kelly.

As well as transporting injured, orphaned and sick wildlife, the vehicle will be used for the collection and delivery of fresh vegetation to the rehabilitation facility and animal hospital.

A common brushtail possum at the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. Picture: Jerad Williams

“The vehicle will be purchased immediately to assist the team with their daily mission to care for wildlife,” Ms Luzzo-Kelly said.

“The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital is grateful for the generosity provided by News Corp, without the support of our community we wouldn’t have the capability to admit 12,000-plus animals per year.”

The grant will help the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital save sick and injured native animals. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The grants will fund projects in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania.
To date, $2.4 million has been donated by News Corp Australia to various national and local organisations and projects.

In this round of grants, $150,000 will be donated to Landcare Australia for a project run by

Capricornia Catchments, which aims to help Queenslanders with property recovery and preparedness such as emergency access to escape routes and water sources.

Landcare volunteers in East Gippsland participating in the summer Birds on Farms survey.

In Victoria, a grant of $150,000 will be donated to Landcare Australia for a wildlife project in East Gippsland that will provide private landowners with the opportunity to set aside areas as habitat or feeding areas for endangered species.

Queensland’s Rural Fire Brigade Association will receive a $50,000 donation, while Tasmania’s Lachlan Fire Brigade will receive $49,500 to upgrade their current fire station.

Rory Oke puts up bar owl boxes in Jarrahmond, near Orbost.

News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador, Penny Fowler, said investing in rural and regional recovery will continue to be a priority.

“We are pleased to continue our support of rural and regional Australia, in particular, bushfire-affected areas in Queensland and Tasmania who have been through one of the toughest years

on record.

Mrs Fowler said Landcare Australia had been on the ground working with communities for 30 years and the projects would go a long way towards restoring habitats and assisting in the mental wellbeing of communities still struggling in the aftermath of the devastating bushfires.

BREAKOUT

The donations in this round are:

- $150,000 to Landcare Australia project in Capricornia Catchments, QLD

- $150,000 to Landcare Australia project in East Gippsland, QLD

- $48,000 to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, QLD

- $50,000 to the Rural Fire Brigade Association Queensland

- $49,500 to Lachlan Fire Station, TAS

Originally published as News Corp Australia grants continue to aid communities affected by bushfires