When I started the OVR bushfire appeal it was my clear statement that 100% of all donations would go to assist victims of the bushfire disasters – and I indicated that to ensure this I would pass your donations onto the Australian Red Cross – but I am no longer prepared to do so as it seems less than 30% will be distributed to those victims currently in need.
In the last hours there has been media coverage in Australia around the distribution of bushfire relief donations received by the Australian Red Cross. A spokesperson for the Red Cross confirmed that 10% of all donations is reserved for their internal administration costs and it was further revealed that only 30% of the remaining funds was planned to be used to provide immediate relief to bushfire victims. Red Cross also announced they will only provide assistance to individuals. No assistance for any small businesses, no assistance for wildlife rescue or shelters, no assistance for farmers, no assistance for property lost or damaged, no assistance to those brave volunteer Firefighters. And apparently almost 70% of the bush fire relief donations Red Cross receive will be ‘reserved’ by them for up to 3 years.
SO ……
Half to the Firefighters, Half to Wildlife Rescue
I will be donating approx. half of the money received from you to the volunteer Wildlife Shelter in Mallacoota run by Sue Johns that was ravaged by recent fires – if you want to make any donations direct to the shelter , they are on Facebook as “SA John’s Wildlife Shelter” or visit their facebook page by
CLICKING HERE. Their aim is to care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and rehabilitate and release them back into the wild.
I will be donating the balance of your generous donations directly to the Country Fire Authority Fire Station at Bruthen, a community in East Gippsland devastated by the fires, where 100% will go directly to help those brave and selfless firefighting volunteers and their local community.
When
I will be distributing the entire balance of the OVR Bushfire Appeal on February 1, 2020. All donations received after that date will be distributed at the end of month.
Want to Help
If you are moved to make a donation to the OVR bushfire appeal it is not too late to do so – and there is no lower limit as every Dollar, Euro, Pound or whatever will help. Make your donation by PayPal to
ozvinreview@gmail.com with the note ‘bushfire appeal’.
Not Happy
If you have made a donation to the OVR Bushfire Appeal and are unhappy about my donation distribution decision please contact me directly by email no later than January 30 and I will direct 100% of the funds you have donated to the Australian Red Cross.
Thank you for your generosity.
Martyn Goodwin, Editor, The Oz Vincent Review.
email to
ozvinrview@gmail.com