A fundraising campaign led by comedian Celeste Barber has surged into the millions as monetary support for frontline bushfire fighters and victims grows across the country.
Barber’s online rally has raised nearly $8 million for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service in a matter of days.
The former All Saints star and sketch writer has mobilised many of her 6.4 million Instagram followers that frequently log on to watch her dorky imitations of glamour behaviour.
As The New Daily understands it, Barber began her campaign on Friday with a more modest target of $30,000, prompted by the plight of her mother-in-law, whose house in Eden, on the south coast of New South Wales, was in peril.
- Related story: Bushfire threat continues across Australian states
She posted photographs of the house on her Facebook page, where the plea for donation is being made.
By Friday morning, a million dollars didn’t seem out of the question. Since then her target has grown by the hour. On Saturday afternoon, the Sydney Morning Herald reported she had raised $5.5 million and was now hoping to reach $6 million.
- Related story: PM brings in army to bolster fire fighting efforts
By Saturday evening, she was closing on $8 million, prompting Barber to set a new target of $9 million.
The NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donations Fund is used to buy equipment for use by NSW Rural Fire Brigades across the state.
Where else can I donate?
Donations to the NSW Rural Fire Service directly benefit the volunteer firefighters on the frontline. You can contact your local brigade directly to help or donate here.
For bank transfers, there is a dedicated bank account (Account Name: NSW Rural Fire Service, BSB: 032-001, Account No: 171051). This account is for the RFS as a whole.
The Country Fire Authority in Victoria has two funds. Donations to a specific brigade can be made through CFA Brigades Donations Fund via this bank account:
BSB: 063 225 Account: 1022 0603, with the name of the brigade to be included in the Reference section.
For the Country Fire Authority Public Fund, for general donations, access this account:
BSB: 063 225 Account: 1022 2326
In Queensland, Fire and Rescue suggests donations of money and items be channelled through the website service givit.org.au.
Givit is handy because it lists items that are needed, and not just in Queensland but in other states. It’s vital that well-meaning people don’t turn up with goods, as they might hamper emergency work.
In South Australia, donations to the Country Fire Service can be made here through the CFS Foundation.
To help people who have lost their homes or been displaced, the Red Cross established a New Years Eve disaster relief and recovery fund. Charities such as the Salvation Army and the St Vincent de Paul have a good history of helping people affected by natural disasters.
The World Wildlife Fund is raising money to treat and house wildlife injured in the fires, notably koalas.
The post Comedian Celeste Barber raises $8 million in a single day for bushfire crisis appeared first on The New Daily.
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