Back-to-school bonus for bushfire-hit families

Schoolkids in areas ravaged by Victoria’s bushfires will receive free school supplies thanks to a donation from the Sunday Herald Sun’s publisher. This is where the money will go.

Alice, 8, and Essie, 10, will benefit from new school supplies. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Schoolkids in country areas will get new uniforms and stationery following a $250,000 gift.

The money — from News Corp Australia which publishes the Sunday Herald Sun — will be directed to families in bushfire-hit areas in particular.

Thousands of students had been missing out on assistance to help them with the basics for school.

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal chief executive Natalie Egleton, whose organisation will distribute the money, said it would pay for 5000 vouchers worth $50 each for uniforms, shoes, school bags and school supplies.

Happy students Alice, 8, and Essie, 10, are kitted out ready for the new school year. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Children in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Queensland would share in the assistance.

Some in bushfire-affected areas were arriving at school without items they needed.

“Children are obviously very traumatised and distressed. There’s a lot of families still living in limbo because they don’t have accommodation,’’ Ms Egleton said.

“If you’ve lost everything, you basically have to replace everything. Service providers are saying they’re really under pressure.”

“Schools play a really vital part in rural towns, they become the epicentre.

“This will give them a sense that others care, that they see what’s going on and they care enough to support them in their school costs.”

Last year alone 2300 students in NSW and 2610 in Victoria missed out on the vouchers as demand outstripped funding.

Natalie Egleton and her daughters Alice and Essie. Picture: Alex Coppel.

All money donated to the program goes to helping youngsters in need.

Border Trust chair Grace Churches, whose charity distributes the school vouchers in Victoria’s northeast, said the full impact of summer’s bushfires on youngsters wouldn’t be known for months or even years.

The vouchers were a practical way of offering immediate support.

“We’ve heard from our communities there’s been a great sense of loss,’’ Ms Churches said.

“It’s imperative those communities feel local people are standing with them.

“It’s hard to appreciate the magnitude of the loss.

“It will take a while to recover.”

News Corp Australia community ambassador Penny Fowler said the donation was aimed at having an immediate impact on those affected by the fires.

“We wanted to help at a grassroots level those families who needed help now, with everything from school supplies to school bags and uniforms,’’ she said.

MORE NEWS

CORRYONG FESTIVAL GETS LOCALS BACK ON THEIR FEET

NEWS CORP FUNDS MAJOR FENCING REBUILD IN BUSHFIRE COMMUNITIES

TOURISTS URGED TO MAKE TRACKS TO MALLACOOTA

“We are committed to helping those affected by the fires, now and in the long term.

She said the donation was just the first round of announcements as part of News Corp Australia’s long-term commitment to helping the bushfire recovery.

Originally published as Back-to-school bonus for bushfire-hit families