City of Greater Shepparton

Council donates $20,000 to Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund

Greater Shepparton City Council today announced it would donate $20,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund.

Greater Shepparton Mayor Geoff Dobson moved the motion at today's Special Council Meeting.

Cr Dobson said Council wanted to acknowledge the tragic impact the bushfires have had on all of Victoria.

"While Greater Shepparton is not directly affected by the bushfires, we are working hard to assist our neighbouring councils in whatever way we can," Cr Dobson said.

"We have had a number of staff travel to the bushfire devastated areas to provide assistance and will continue to provide assistance while it is required.

"It is wonderful to see how the community has come together to help those in need during this time."

Attached is a list of support services available for people affected by the bushfires.

GENERAL FIRE INFORMATION

Bushfire Information
• Victorian Bushfire Information Line 1800 240 667
• www.cfa.vic.gov.au
• www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires

Missing Persons
• Anyone attempting to track down relatives or friends from fire affected areas should contact the Red Cross on 1800 727 077 or email inquiries@redcross.org.au.

Counselling Services
• Immediate phone counselling is also available by contacting LifeLine on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au .
• Parentline 13 22 89 or www.parentline.vic.gov.au
• Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelp.com.au
• Department of Human Services www.dhs.vic.gov.au/emergency
• Goulburn Valley Community Health Service on 5823 3200.
• Council's Recovery Team on 5832 9700.

Financial assistance
• Department of Human Services - emergency assistance including grants www.dhs.vic.gov.au .
• Centrelink disaster payment information 180 2211 or www.disasterassist.gov.au

Road Access Information
• Information about road closures is available from VicRoads' website http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/trafficinfo. Visitors to the region are advised to stay away from fire-affected areas and to observe signed road closures.

Other Health Issues During Bushfires
• Department of Human Services has a number of information sheets on health issues relevant to bushfire recovery. These can be accessed through the DHS website www.dhs.vic.gov.au.
• available, for how long, if pets are allowed, your contact details and anything else of note. This information will be passed onto DHS.

DONATIONS

Material Aid
• Relief organisations have reported difficulties managing the large influx of material aid (clothing, white goods, food etc) that has been generously donated. At this time people are being asked to instead donate to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund launched by the Victorian Premier and the Prime Minister. It is being coordinated by the Red Cross and overseen by an independent advisory panel.

• People still wishing to donate material aid, including clothing, beddings, food etc, should contact their local Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul Society to determine if they can make use of the goods. The Salvation Army Family Store in Benalla Road, Shepparton can be contacted on (03) 5821 9694 and St Vincent de Paul on (03) 5821 5879.

Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
• Call the Red Cross on 1800 811 700 or donate online at www.redcross.org.au
• Donate at any Bendigo Bank or any branch of the ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB or Westpac banks.
• Donate at any Bunnings store or Australia Post outlet.
• Donations to the Salvation Army can be made by phoning 137 258 or visiting www.salvationarmy.org.au.
• Red Cross Bushfire Appeal donation tins are being provided at Council's customer services areas in the Welsford Street Office, Aquamoves and Riverlinks Box Office.

*Note: Red Cross will not deduct any funds from this appeal for administration costs. All funds received will be kept in a Trust Fund set up by the Victorian Government. All interest earned on donations will be invested back into the Appeal.

Housing / Emergency Accommodation
• The Department of Human Services is coordinating donations of billeting/housing and emergency accommodation for Victorian bushfire victims. People wishing to donate accommodation should contact the Victorian Bushfire Public Accommodation Donation Line by calling 1800 006 468 between 8am - 8pm.

• Council has established an accommodation database for people who have called offering spare rooms, granny flats, caravans and motel rooms. Please contact Greater Shepparton City Council on (03) 5832 9700 or email council@shepparton.vic.gov.au to confirm what style of accommodation is

Blood Donations
• Urgent blood donations are not needed at this time. However people should continue donating over the coming weeks to maintain supplies. Call 13 14 95 to make an appointment or visit www.donateblood.com.au to fill out an online registration form.

Volunteers
• GoVolunteer on 1300 366 356 or register at www.govolunteer.com.au.
• Volunteers Australia on www.volunteeringaustralia.org/volunteer

ANIMAL WELFARE

• Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Customer Service Centre on 136 186 for advice on nearest DPI coordination centre.
• RSPCA temporary emergency accommodation for animals 03 9224 2222 or www.rspca.org.au.
• Wildlife Victoria 24 hour contact for injured animals 13 000 94535 or www.wildlifevictoria.org.au.
• To offer horse agistment contact the Triple R Equine Welfare Crisis Network on www.triplerequinewelfare.org.
• For offers of accommodation for small animals please contact Animal Aid on www.animalaid.com.au.
• To help with wildlife rescue or to make a donation please contact Wildlife Rescuers on www.wildliferescuers.org.au.

Donations
• To make stock feed donations for livestock contact the Victorian Farmers Federation 1300 882 833 or www.vff.org.au.
• To make pet food donations contact your local RSPCA www.rspca.org.au.