Allocation of More IWA Bush Fire Appeal Funds

Allocation of More IWA Bush Fire Appeal Funds

12 September, 2020

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal Funds to Hartley Fire Brigade, NSW

The President of Lithgow Club A50 Marilyn Tulley presented the following extract:

I have been speaking to Doreen Peters who manages the Hartley Bush Fire Mobile Canteen. I was slightly involved in volunteering with Doreen when the fires started ‘getting serious’ beginning of December, and it is not until you become involved that you realise just how much goes into running such a facility.

Doreen is 80 years old (looks about 60!) and has been catering for bush fires for over 40 years! Manages to run her farm on her own since her husband passed away and is an amazing woman.

In the first couple of weeks, we were preparing from about 80 – 100 meals a day. Fresh salad, cold meats, fresh buns, fruit, snack bars, lollies, drinks all went into a bag for each fire fighter. When the fires were raging all over, it went to over 300 per day!  Doreen over the years has been acknowledged for her hard work and devotion to “feeding the multitude”.

When I spoke to Doreen to see how she was situated, she mentioned that a new generator was needed and a few updates on her mobile truck, and she was going to request some money at a meeting she was attending this week.

$5000 was donated to the Hartley Fire Brigade.  Doreen was thrilled to be able to accept this very generous donation.

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal Funds to Bungandarra Rural Fire Brigade, Qld

The disaster which unfolded north of Yeppoon in District A77 last December exposed a number of weaknesses in the QFES management of wildfires, not the least being poor communications and inadequate water supplies for the many appliances which attended this catastrophic incident. Following this event the Bungandarra RFB resolved to construct their own semi-mobile water supply to better manage future appliance water supplies. The project involves a portable 6000 litre capacity tank mounted on a portable frame, equipped with suitable pumps, hoses and fittings to provide a quick refill option to both urban and rural appliances. The contribution of $6000 was gratefully accepted by the RFS community.

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal funds to Salvation Army (Gosford North & Surrounds), NSW

Following negotiations with Maria Fletcher, from the Salvation Army, Gosford North President Karen, Treasurer Kath, Correspondence Secretary Glenis and Minute Secretary Pat visited The Salvation Army Headquarters at Erina where they presented them with 5 x $400 vouchers. These vouchers were bought with the $2000 allocated to our club from IWA Bush Fire relief funds. They packaged the vouchers and a brochure on Inner Wheel in beautiful handmade cards donated by Ros Spencer. The Salvation Army have identified 5 families “who have lost everything” in the Summer bush fires. With their extensive network, the Salvation Army were able to identify worthy recipients of these vouchers. What would we do without such wonderful people as the Salvation Army?