Approximately $128,000 has been raised by the generosity of our own Inner Wheel Australia members and those of many clubs overseas. This is a true example of Inner Wheel Friendship with the resolve of helping one another when the need arises.

Of these funds $57,000 was donated by the German Inner Wheel clubs and has been earmarked for use by the volunteers of the Rural fire service.

A further donation from GB & I requested the funds be spent on revegetation.

The Inner Wheel Australia Executive have been actively investigating where these funds can be used that enables as many families as possible to be assisted. In this it was decided that Community Projects would have the most effect and any support to these projects would certainly be beneficial in the years ahead as those in authority warn us we face a longer fire season each year.

10 August, 2020

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal Funds to Thowgla Community Hall, VIC

A61 Council Member Glen Harding was made aware of the Community Hall in the small village of Thowgla that was severely impacted by the bush fires.  The donation of $5000 is going to the upgrading of toilets by building a shower and changing facility.  This would greatly improve the function of the hall as the community hosts campers for the annual Man From Snowy River Bush Festival.

The hall secretary stated that they still has a long way to go towards recovery and seeing improvements happening like this will be very beneficial to people’s moral and mental health.

2 August, 2020

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal Funds to Salvation Army, WA

This project was submitted by IPP June.  The Salvation Army in WA carry out the important work of feeding the volunteers during disasters and in particular during the fires in WA last Summer.

Major Paul Beardsley from WA Salvation Army greatly welcomed the donation of $3000.  This enabled the Emergency Services team to continue the volunteer work that they do in supporting fire fighters on the front line.

Council Member Rhonda Johns represented IWA at the presentation.

22 July, 2020

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal Funds to Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary, QLD

Rockhampton Sunset (District A77) submitted the following project on behalf of the Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary.  The park was evacuated in November due to the bush fires.  The volunteers relocated over 150 animals for two days.  The firefighters were able to save the property.

Their Not-For-Profit registered charity “Wildlife Rehabilitation HQ Inc.” is onsite at the park.  Funds go to taking care of the sick, injured and orphaned wildlife which are rehabilitated and released back to the wild.  This is in the form of feed and the provision of health care.  $3000 will benefit this park as it has been closed since the fires and with Covid-19 restrictions they have no income.

Inner Wheel Australia Certificate Cooberrie Park

20 July, 2020

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal Funds to Sapphire Country Pantry, NSW

Sapphire Country Pantry is a service running out of Bega.  Food and supplies are delivered to bush fire victims around the Bega Valley and into the Monaro countryside including Bemboka.  The Mission Statement is “nourishing the community” as the volunteers not only deliver food but also help build the community and nourish people’s well-being.  The area relies on farming and tourism.  Many of the townspeople are afraid to leave their homes and are relying on friends and relatives to do their shopping.

The mobile “Pantry” now provides online shopping and ordering.  The delivered a utility-load of groceries to Bemboka, a small village badly damaged in the fires.  The delivery became a social event and created a carnival atmosphere with people enjoying a legal outing.  To keep this service going, the volunteers asked for funding to purchase a van that could be fitted with shelving, refrigeration, easily loaded and easy for the volunteers.  It is envisaged the mobile pantry will also partner with other care organizations. $20000 was donated for this extremely worthwhile project.  The Inner Wheel logo would be displayed on the van.

17 July, 2020

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal Funds to Ewingar Community, NSW

Ewingar is a remote are in Northern Rivers area of NSW – District A55.  The community was drought stricken and then the fires ravaged the community.  Fencing, livestock, homes were lost which left the community traumatized.  The community hall was the centre when this catastrophe hit as families and firefighters came to the centre.  The hall needed a new oven/stove and kitchen cabinets.  $5000 was donated to the community.

1 July, 2020

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal Funds to the Nymboida Community, NSW

A submission by A55 Council Member Alison Banks was accepted to aid in the revegetation of creek banks, the replacement of playground equipment and plants and trees for home gardens. The total donated was $9000. 8 members from the Inner Wheel Club of Grafton visited Nymboida for the presentation.

30 June, 2020

Presentation of Bush Fire Appeal Funds to Charmhaven Rural Fire Service, NSW

The Inner Wheel Club of Wyong submitted a request to the IWA Executive that a donation to the Charmhaven Rural Fire Service be considered, specifically for the installation of reversing cameras on the fire trucks which would help improve the safety of the region’s rural firefighters.

Dozens of firefighters from at least ten brigades from local Rural Fire Services were directly involved in fighting the horrendous January bushfires on the Central Coast of NSW.  It became apparent that the firefighters desperately need rear view reversing cameras fitted to their fire trucks as it is not always possible to turn a fire truck around and escape the oncoming flames.  Reversing up a fire trail when falling burning matter cannot be seen by the driver is not only unsafe but must also be quite frightening.

The IWA Executive agreed that having a reversing camera fitted to the fire trucks would certainly help the safety of the drivers and crew when reversing out of fire trails during operations controlling bushfires in the future.  As a result, IWA donated $7,000 for the purchase and installation of reversing cameras on ten fire trucks operating in the Charmhaven/Central Coast area covered by the local Rural Fire Brigades.  IWC Wyong President Sue Arthur, accompanied by members of the IWC Wyong, presented the cheque on behalf of Inner Wheel Australia to the District Manager for the Central Coast Rural Fire Service, Superintendent Viki Campbell.  Also in attendance were local residents who volunteer to ensure the smooth running of the Charmhaven RFS Station.

 

 

11 June, 2020

The first presentation of Bush Fire Appeal funds has been made to the Mogo Public School, NSW

It came to our attention via the Red Cross Recovery Support Officer for the South Coast of NSW that Mogo School was struggling to provide enough digital devices for their students. Of the 44 pupils at the school all either lost their homes or had them damaged. The P & C was naturally unable to fund raise to buy any necessary equipment. A Zoom meeting was held with the School Principal, Lyndall Schuhmann, to ascertain what was required and after approval from the Executive, IWA donated $10,123.90 for the purchase of Ipads and an electronic whiteboard.

The presentation took place at Mogo Public School on Thursday 11 June, 2020, in front of all of the pupils and teachers after the Welcome to Country was read by one of the  children.  Inner Wheel Australia was represented by Heather Jenkins, Secretary of IWC Wollongong, who made the presentation of the equipment to the School.  The presentation was a complete surprise to the students.  The School Captains were very happy to receive the new equipment on behalf of the school and Mrs Jenkins accepted their thanks on behalf of Inner Wheel Australia.