Bushfires around Melbourne - what can we do?

[Gosling1]

Heard tonight about the devastation of Marysville and all the other areas, its terrible. Happy to throw in if we do any sort of fundraiser at WSB.....

[Strika]

How you can help
* Donations to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund can be made at any National Australia Bank. BSB: 082 001 - Account: 860 046 797
* Donate blood at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service - 131 495



According to the news, only one building in Marysville is left standing!!!!!

[Ratmick]

Yep, and it's not the bakery nor the biker pub where they made the best hamburgers .

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/02/08/2485362.htm

No sound, but you don't need it. Pretty sobering, each of those piles of ashes and smouldering remains was someone's house and safe haven.

You'll see the one surviving house towards the end. If anyone would like to relive the Marysville before the 7th of February you've got Google maps street view and nothing else.

Mick

[javaman]

Servo gone, info center gone, ski rentals, that candy place .. total devastation, unbelievable. Prayers for all living there.

The bakery on the corner seems to be standing ?

[mick_dundee]

108 dead as of this morning I plan to take whatever spare clothes I have down to the Diamond Valley community centre today.

[esie]

Latest news reports are that most of the bushfire areas will be declared a crime zone as it appears many were deliberately lit. Lock 'em up and throw away the key!

This ABC site http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2009/0 ... ---or.html outlines way in which people can help.

In terms of donations, according to the news coverage and websites, money and blood are the most needed donations.

For all those of us able to give blood, go and do it. Anyone who has burns requires a huge amount of fluid resuscitation.

The Australian Red Cross has set up the 2009 Vic Bushfire Appeal, donations can be made by phone or online. http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services ... l-2009.htm

[Smitty]

and we are still trying to track some friends who live (lived? ) in St Andrews
just off the Kinglake - St Andrews Rd


...fingers crossed

update....She is at work (dunno why) and he is at home protecting the joint
as the fires which missed them first time are still spotting on the properties
around them at St Andrews (those that arent burnt down yet )

[myk1979]

I read in the paper today that the 4 major banks have donated 1 million dollars each to the Bushfire Appeal Fund. Now, i understand that every little bit helps, but these banks are making BILLIONS in profits EVERY year..........they can do alot fucking better than that!!!
It's bloody disgraceful.

[Phil]

Having been through the January 94 Jannali/Como bushfires where our whole street pretty much burnt to the ground, I can kind of relate to what the people of this great area are going through at the moment.

I can only echo other comments, tourists should stay the f k away and let the people get on with rebuilding their lives, whilst we help by doing whatever we can

I've also got my fingers crossed for the good people of Mirboo North, Harrietville, Omeo and all the other great places we love to visit

[Slow and wobbly]

Donations accepted at a wharehouse in Rowville
Lot 7 Henderson rd. Listen to 3aw am 693 as they are calling supplies that are desperately needed.
Alternately call into your local salvos and donate anything you feel may be useful.

[mick_dundee]

Donations accepted at a wharehouse in Rowville.

Warehouse, not to be confused with whorehouse... I spent today at the Whittlesea community centre just helping pack boxes and stuff. I can tell you the work going down in Whittlesea alone is massive and kinda awe inspiring to see a community band together. I'm back there again tomorrow to help out and back to my paying gig Wednesday.

If anyone has time spare feel free to rock up, plenty of work still to be done.

[MrsWasabi]

My work is doing dollar for dollar for any of it's employees showing proof of donation and or donations through their salary.

I have also gone through all of mine and MrWasabi's clothes and will be giving them to charities so ppl can at least have something to start out with!

My prayers are also with them!

[Rossi]

My place of attendance ( can't really call it work ) matches our donations too, so my cash has duly been stumped up to the big boss's secretary........a goodly amount too, JUST so they have to match it
As of yet, I don't think they are making a big thing over it, but Coles are donating ALL of the profit ,fom ALL of their stores nationally this Friday 13th.........we all got to eat & we all have to shop..... so if you've already given as much as you can & you still need to get your shopping

[mick_dundee]

Well spent my most frustrating day ever today at Whittlesea I reckon. So many donations coming in and nothing going up the mountain, ended up having to turn people away as we just ran out of room to store stuff simply as nothing was moving

Believe the road has now opened up that they are at least allowing the residents that still ahve homes to go back there, dunno if generators and stuff are moving yet though and they're needed badly.

[aardvark]

I rang Sally today and told her that we wouldn't be spending any money on crap like flowers, chocolates or dinner for Valentines Day this year. There's people that need that money more than I do, so we have both agreed to forego Valentines Day this year and donate the money we would have spent.