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Australia: Six months after Victorian bushfires, public praised for generosity

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Australia
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Australian Red Cross
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Red Cross has praised Australian and international communities for their support of people affected by Victoria's devastating fires.

Red Cross CEO Robert Tickner described the relief and recovery response over the past six months as an extraordinary demonstration of the power of humanity. He praised the efforts of the thousands of people working and volunteering in affected areas, and the generosity of hundreds of thousands of people who donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

'We see the six-month mark as an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved since late January and to recognise the courage of the survivors and the resilience of local communities, as well as the hard work, collaboration and the incredible generosity we have witnessed in the wake of the fires,' Tickner said.

'It's also an important time to remember that people and communities are still really struggling and that for many, the long journey back to normality, both physical and emotional, is just beginning,' he said. 'We still have a long way to go.'

The unprecedented $379 million dollars raised through the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal is being distributed by the Department of Human Services under the oversight of an Independent Advisory Panel chaired by Mr John Landy. By the end of July, the Advisory Panel had endorsed gifts worth $266 million. A further $51 million of gift types have been identified by the Advisory Panel, and it is currently working through the final details to administer and distribute these gifts. Reports produced by the Advisory Panel can be accessed at the Department of Human Services website at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal.

'The fires saw the largest emergency response in the history of Australian Red Cross and this has certainly been the biggest national appeal in which we have ever been involved,' Tickner said. 'The generosity displayed by the public and businesses across the country and around the world has been inspiring, as has the commitment and hard work of all of our staff and the many volunteers and members who have dedicated their time to helping those affected.

'I am confident that this positive sentiment and impressive commitment will continue and that we will remain dedicated to supporting these communities well into the future.'

Preparing for emergencies

Red Cross is helping communities prepare for future emergencies through its Emergency REDiPlan four-step program, focussed on household prepardeness, and Emergency REDiPlan materials, including information to assist seniors and children, are available at www.redcross.org.au.

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Media inquiries: Contact Jacqui Pringle on 0448 571 484 for more information or to arrange an interview.