HELP NEEDED: Cafe Jas employees Joel Rompa, Katrina Rasmussen, Sharon James, Jane Overman and Cass Graham help raise money for the Millar family. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
HORSHAM'S Cafe Jas is raising money to support an employee's family who lost their home in the Tasmanian bushfires.
Cafe owner Sharron Keating said supervisor Babette Millar's brother Luke Millar lost all but a suitcase of clothes when his Murdunna home went up in flames.
Mr Millar and his wife Anita, who is six months pregnant, have three children aged five, nine and 11.
Mrs Keating said $1 from every coffee sold on Australia Day and money raised through a donation jar would be given to the family.
"Luke is a volunteer fire-fighter so he is still out there helping everyone else," she said.
"Both of them are homeless and jobless because Luke is a school bus driver so he won't have a job until everything gets back to normal.
"Anita runs daycare out of their home but obviously she can't work either.
"They are struggling."
Mrs Keating said the family was staying at Babette's Tasmanian home, which was not affected by the fires.
She encouraged Wimmera residents to help the family get back on its feet.
"We can never know when it is going to happen to us so it is nice if people can get behind these people and help," she said.
"I understand that people might not be directly impacted but Babette is such a wonderful member of our team.
"We really want to try to help her family and a lot of our customers feel the same."
Horsham's Red Cross unit will take donations for the Red Cross Tasmanian Bushfire Appeal.
Unit secretary Rhonda Hender said people could donate at the relief agency's shop in Firebrace Street or could call her on 5382 4447.
"We have already received $200 so that is a wonderful start," she said.
"Any little amount of money will help."
Uniting Care's Victorian and Tasmanian branch is also taking donations through its Share campaign that will go to the Red Cross.
Uniting Care Tasmania chief executive Lindy O'Neill said people could donate through the community service provider's website at tas.unitingcare.org.au.
