Bushfire Appeal - Education community. We need your help wherever you are!

[Jenny Luca]

Victoria, the State I live in in Australia, has been hit by a tragic natural disaster that is affecting the lives of many of our country communities. On Saturday the 7th of Feb., bushfires, fanned by fierce northerly winds in 46 degree celcius temperatures, ravaged our countryside, leading to the deaths of 173 people. This figure is expected to rise to over 200 in the coming days as they gain access to affected areas and search homes. Native animals, livestock and family pets were other victims of this disaster.

So how can we all make a difference? We would love to see our education community from near and far band together to support the communities in need. What is needed is money to help schools rebuild, families rebuild their lost homes and for communities to build the infrastructure needed that has been lost in these fires.

What can you do? Anything that will help your students to understand the need to help others when the situation is dire. Be it a sausage sizzle, free dress day, bake sale, whatever it takes to raise a few dollars that can be used to support others. In the next few days, with the help of Sheryl Nussbaum Beach and some words of wisdom from Clarence Fisher, we'll be setting up a paypal account to direct funds you raise to the Red Cross appeal that has been set up to support those affected. Create a page here and let us know your plans. We can support one another and link our schools to a common cause. Let's show the world how the education community can use the tools at our disposal to connect and support one another for a common purpose.

[Amanda Ritter]

The girls at Toorak are on to this and ready and willing to help - more on my page.

[Tania Sheko]

Good job, Jenny. I've just sent the link to my team. I hope we can contribute.

[wonderwoman]

The children at Kunyung are having a Free Dress Day on Friday with a minimum donation of a gold coin! I have faith in our community to raise a huge amount for this desperate cause. Will keep you posted.

[Jenny Luca]

Kunyung PS - yay!!!! I'm sending my son off tomorrow morning with his donation. Do keep us posted. Update your page with the amount raised and anything else you plan to so to make a difference.

[Wendy Randall]

Saint John Vianney's Primary School in Brisbane brought in donations of clothes, toys, toiletries, tinned food with one day's notice and will be having a free dress day tomorrow (Friday) with a gold coin or more donation. We hope to be able to do more for a school perhaps restocking with stationary etc - whatever is needed when the time is appropriate.

[Amanda Marrinan]

We've already had a drive this week for clothing, toys, household goods, toiletries etc but the community wanted to do more so we too, at SJV, are having a Free Dress Day (with a gold coin donation) on Friday.

[Jenny Luca]

@Wendy @Amanda so wonderful to have more PLPers here. Great effort from St. Johns. The crisis here is really just emerging. We are going to be hearing more tales of despair without a doubt. Communities are reeling. Thank you so much for doing what you can to support the cause.

[NinaD]

Hi Jenny,
The Kunyung children raised a considerable amount of money today to go to the victims of the bushfires. I teach very young children and even though I've left it to parents to talk to their children about the fires, I was impressed by their understanding that they were giving to people who are in need. Today Kunyung worked together to make a difference. I hope you get this as I have no idea what I'm doing.
Cheers Nina

[Jenny Luca]

Got it Nina. It's wonderful that Kunyung rallied for the cause today. I'm sure that, like you say, even the very young children have an idea of the need for a response when people have been through tough times. My son was brimming with the news of the money rasied when I got home. What you need to do is upload this information onto your page within this site. You're doing just fine.