GERF supports fire and flood victims

The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) has provided financial assistance to the value of $80,750 to 50 families affected by recent fire, flash flooding and strong winds in Gippsland.

Natural disasters in early 2011 included:

• Tostaree fire in East Gippsland (1-4 February) which burnt out 11,000 hectares, destroyed two homes, and impacted a number of properties
• Flash flooding in West Gippsland (5 February) where falls of up to 120 millimetres caused damage to homes and power blackouts. The SES responded to more than 160 calls for assistance around Warragul and the Latrobe Valley
• Flash flooding and strong winds (22 March) caused damage to properties in the municipalities of South Gippsland, Baw Baw and Latrobe. Wilson’s Promontory and Fish Creek suffered severe damage

Bundaberg Rum Foundation honors major pledge

Diago (the Bundaberg Rum Foundation) has honored a major pledge made more than 18 months ago and presented GERF with a donation of $40,000.

Bushfire effort earns Prime Minister’s praise

The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation “in grateful recognition of your significant commitment and contribution to the recovery and rebuilding effort in the aftermath of the 2009 Victorian bushfires.”

The certificate is signed by Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, Ian Dicker, and Victorian Premier, Ted Ballieu.

The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund provides an invaluable service to Gippslanders in times of emergency. Sage Technology is proud to provide volunteer support to this outstanding organisation.

A team of Sage employees have volunteered to provide content management support for the GERF website.

The volunteers have been trained in how to maintain the site and are now available to update content as required, especially during emergencies such as bushfires or floods.

GERF Bushfire Appeal 2009 Supporters

The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund would like to acknowledge and thank the support of numerous businesses, organizations, community groups and individuals who gave so generously and with compassion to all those impacted by the Gippsland fires. We were humbled by the wonderful contributions to the Fund .

We wish to recognise the major Corporate supporters  of:

• International Power Loy Yang B and employees
• PDF Food Services
• International Power Hazelwood and employees
• International Sea Drilling and employees
• RLT Joint Venture and employees
• AKZ Reinforcing
• Solo Waste Australia Pty Ltd
• Prime Pharmacy Group
• Loy Yang Power Management and employees
• Traralgon Centrelink Call Centre – Spirit/Com
• Freedom Fuels
• TRUenergy Yallourn
• Silcar
• Fluor Australia
• Australian Energy Company
• SMEC Urban
• ESSO Australia Resources Pty Ltd
• Thiess Pty Ltd and employees
• Tokyo Electric
• Travellers Rest Hotel, Thorpdale
• Alstrom Power
• Patties Foods
• Pacific Smiles
• Albroys Car Centre
• Workways
• Radio Station Gold 1242 and TRFM
• National Australia Bank
• SGS Australia
• The LV Printers, Traralgon
• Australian Paper – Maryvale Mill
• Alan Wilson Insurance Brokers
• Lurganare Pty Ltd
• McMillan Partners
• Diamond Power and employees
• Yallourn Mine Alliance
• JP Slattery and Co.

Major support from Foundations, Community Groups

Schools and Unions

• The Andrews Foundation
• Bishop’s Family Foundation
• Rotary Clubs, Cleveland, Oakleigh
• Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund
• Mirboo North Community Care
• Joan Salter Fund
• CFMEU Mining and Energy Division
• Traralgon Bowls Club
• Gippsland Grammar, Sale
• Inverloch Primary School – Walkathon
• Nagle College Sale

Major Fundraiser Events

• Gippsland Emergency Relief Concert – Austar, Ace Radio, Latrobe City Council  and Victoria Government
• Gippsland Art Auction – Artists Unit Organisers and Wellington Shire
• Gippsland Bushfire Benefit Concert – Monash Uni, ABC Gippsland Radio
• Auction at Zips by Ron Wilson and Alan Whitty
• Cargo Lounge Fundraiser
• Sale Business Community Golf Day
• Yinnar Community Auction
• Churchill United Soccer Club
• Bunyip Country Music Festival
• “Salute to the 39″ Kokoda Dinner
• Yallourn TRUenergy Fun Run/Walk

Media Support

• Gippsland ABC Radio
• WIN TV
• The LV Express
• Gippsland Times
• Gold 1242 and TRFM Radio

Major Car Donations

• Agnew Gold Mine, WA
• Jomax Engineering, Qld

Government Contributions

• Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority
• Bass Coast Shire
• South Gippsland Shire
• Korumburra, Wonthaggi and Latrobe Valley Courts

We would like to say a big “thank you” to everyone who supported GERF and for digging deep in the midst of an economic crisis and this unprecedented natural disaster. The magnitude of support was so great that all the donors cannot be acknowledged here; however, without your vital support we could not provide financial and material assistance to those impacted.

John L Mitchell                                      Andy Tegart
President                                            Hon. Secretary

House lost in Boolara in the 2009 fires

The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund has launched an appeal to aid fire stricken familles who received a devastating blow from this week’s fires across Gippsland.

The fund is currently urging Gippsland and Victorian communities and businesses to support those who have lost homes and belongings by making a much-needed donation.

Donations can be made via the post or at any National Australia Bank in Gippsland. Donation cheques can be posted to PO Box 508, Traralgon, 3844 or by credit card or PayPal through the donation button on this website.

Property at Mirboo North after 2009 Fires

The fund provides financial support to those affected by bushfires, floods and other natural disasters and is managed by a committee of volunteers.

John Mitchell, President of the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund is calling on all Gippslanders to help other locals in this time of need.

“Our thoughts are with those who have lost homes, property and treasured belongings in this fire,” he said.

Rear of Workshop in Boolara

“The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund is all about locals helping locals in a crisis. An event of this scale, is just devastating for our whole community” he continued.

The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund has raised and distributed, since December 2006, one million dollars ($1M) in response to the two large fire events and Gippsland Floods.

100 per cent of the donations received by the fund are distributed to disaster victims* and the fund is a registered charitable organisation making all donations tax deductible.