THE Wimmera community’s compassionate spirit was one of the lasting impacts of the Remlaw fire.
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In the days and weeks afterwards, residents and organisations led the recovery with their hearts and wallets.
Many organisations donated to the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund established by the state government shortly after Black Saturday.
In the Wimmera, fundraisers included donating commission from sheep sales; donating staff tips; businesses donating a portion of, or all of a particular day’s earnings; a speed networking night, with entry fees going to the appeal; barbecues; book and toy donations from schools; a cabaret; yabby races; and a publicans charity dash.
Volunteers and Horsham Rotary Club members were among those to collect and pack goods for fire-affected families, while other organisations accepted tool donations to help people clean up their properties and rebuild homes.
The influx of support led the Salvation Army to request Victorians hold off on goods donations because its three warehouses were full.
Blood bank donations also surged after the fires, with Horsham Blood Donor Centre reporting collections of between 90 and 100 units of blood in the week afterwards, doubling its normal target of 50 to 60 units a week.
Among individual acts of goodwill after the Remlaw fire were a builder’s offer to rebuild affected homes at cost price; a helicopter loan for a Haven man and three friends to fly home from a boat race in Echuca to check on their homes; and a man donating his car to a fire-affected family.