Updated 6 January, 2020.
It's been a tough start to summer here in South Australia. We're heartbroken by the devastation the fires have caused on Kangaroo Island and in the Adelaide Hills. Our sincere thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones, their livelihoods, homes, livestock, businesses and properties. The tragic loss of wildlife, habitats and the impact on our national parks is devastating.
So many generous messages from around the world have flooded in with offers to help and we are so grateful for your eagerness to assist our affected communities. The most effective and productive way to help right now is through donations. People need financial assistance to buy generators for power, food for their livestock, water, petrol and other necessities to help them rebuild one day at a time. Here is what you can do right now to help our affected communities recover and rebuild.
The State Emergency Relief Fund (SERF)
The State Emergency Relief Fund (SERF) has been set up by the South Australian Government to help people directly affected by the devastating natural disasters in Australia. There are four ways to donate to the SERF:
- 1. Electronic funds transfer to the State Emergency Relief Fund, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, BSB 065 266, Account 10020160, Description must state 'donation'
- Credit card – visit the State Emergency Relief Fund BPoint payment website at bpoint.com.au/payments/serf or dial 1300 276 468 (1300 BPOINT) and enter biller code 1002359
- Cash – go into any branch of the Commonwealth Bank and donate over the counter giving the details: BSB 065 266, Account 10020160
- Cheque – send to State Emergency Relief Fund, Donations, QA Finance, GPO Box 292, Adelaide SA 5001
For more information about SERF in emergencies click here.
The Kangaroo Island Mayors Bushfire Appeal Fund
The money raised through the Kangaroo Island Mayors Bushfire appeal will go directly into the hands of islanders that need it most. This will help those directly impacted by the devastation caused by the fires and will help them face each new day with financial assistance to rebuild their lives, homes and businesses. This is the official donation appeal for Kangaroo Island.
- BSB: 105 094
- Account Number: 035 680 540
- Account Name: Mayoral Bushfire fund
For international deposits, enter Swift Code: SGBLAU2S
For more information rel="noopener noreferrer" on this fund, please click here
Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park Fund
The Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park fund has been set up to care for the significant number of koalas and other native species that have been injured in the Kangaroo Island fires. The park has been treating new koalas as they come in each day with pain relief, antibiotics as well as building new infrastructure to provide a new home for the wild animals as they are rehabilitated before they can be released back into the wild.
Donate rel="noopener noreferrer" to the Kangaroo rel="noopener noreferrer" Island Wildlife Fund here.
Find out more about the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Fund and follow their social media pages to stay up to date:
https://kangarooislandwildlifepark.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kiwildlifepark/
https://www.instagram.com/kiwildlifepark/
The CFS Foundation
The Country Fire Service is made up of volunteer firefighters who risk their lives and serve tirelessly to protect our homes, towns, environment, animals and businesses. Many of them have lost their own homes and leave loved ones behind to protect our community, so digging deep to our volunteer firefighters is how best we can say thank you. The CFS Foundation provides financial assistance to CFS volunteer firefighters and their families who have suffered through death, injury, loss or damage of property while rel="noopener noreferrer" in the line of service. rel="noopener noreferrer"
To donate to the CFS Foundation, click here.
Find out more about the CFS Foundation and follow their social media pages to stay up to date:
https://cfsfoundation.org.au/
https://www.facebook.com/CFSFoundation/
Kangaroo Island Stall
The Kangaroo Island Stall in the Adelaide Central Markets has a beautiful array of products that are made on the island. From wine, spirits, to health and beauty products this is a great way to continue to support the businesses on the island by choosing to invest your money into their economy. They are also accepting cash donations for the CFS volunteers on Kangaroo Island.
To donate, visit Stall 17, Adelaide Central Markets. It's open every day except Sunday and Monday.
Find out more about the Kangaroo Island Stall and follow their social media pages to stay up to date:
https://www.kionline.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/kangarooislandstall/
https://www.facebook.com/kangarooislandstall/
Blaze Aid Volunteers
Blaze Aid is a non-profit, volunteer run organisation that works with people in rural Australia after natural disasters like fires and floods. In the case of Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills, they are setting up relief centres in both locations for farmers and affected families who register to receive the help of volunteers. If you are fit, willing and able to assist, you can register your time and service at the following two relief centres:
- Lobethal, Adelaide Hills from 9 January 2020. Click here for location details.
- Kangaroo Island. Camp location to be advised. Click here to stay up to date when it's announced.
Find out more about Blaze Aid and follow their social media pages to stay up to date:
https://blazeaid.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/Blazeaid/
Donating Goods:
The CFS and the Kangaroo Island Stall are now respectfully declining the donations of clothes and goods due to logistical operations. It also helps the communities to use the donated money at the shops within the affected community area to pump money back into the economy. It also gives them the choice to buy what they really need such as much-needed UHF two-way radios for the locals when fighting fires. This is the only form of communication and they help save lives.
Australia Wide:
We will continue to update this page while the bushfires and their impact are felt in South Australia. We also want to acknowledge that our neighbours across state borders are also in need, so please consider donating to the national fundraisers to help Australia recover and rebuild such as the Red Cross, The Salvos, Foodbank Australia, Wires Wildlife Rescue, just to name a few.
Thank you for your incredible generosity. It's felt here in South Australia and we look forward to welcoming you with open arms when you visit.
