JANUARY 15, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
Food link for fire relief By Benjamin Millar Melbourne’s inner-west has been digging deep to help out their country counterparts facing devastating losses in the bushfire crisis crippling communities around Australia. Maribyrnong and Hobsons bay residents, businesses and community groups have swung in behind a range of bushfire relief measures, including the provision of urgent food and supplies. Yarraville-based Foodbank Victoria has been playing a crucial role in the emergency response to the unprecedented bushfire crisis, which has left at least 27 people dead, destroyed more than 2000 homes and burnt out more than 10 million hectares.
‘‘
All those communities out there affected are incredibly grateful
’’
- Dave McNamara Tonnes of emergency food relief and water has been sent from the Yarraville warehouse to East Gippsland since January 1, when the first truck left for Bairnsdale with supplies to help firefighters and local communities caught up in the bushfires. With roads into the area still cut off, Foodbank Victoria also began shipping food relief to Mallacoota by sea on January 3. The first load included 650 hampers, pallets of water and muesli bars. Almost 1000 cars came through the warehouse to drop off crucial items on January 4, with six military trucks loading up 50 pallets of water and eight pallets of food hampers for East Gippsland. US pop star Lizzo joined the volunteers last Tuesday, making a surprise visit to lend a hand in the midst of her first Australian tour. “Thank you so much for volunteering your time and your energy and your hearts,” she told volunteers. Foodbank Victoria chief executive Dave McNamara said the community response has been enormous, with more than 400 volunteers helping sort and pack more than 4500 food hampers for bushfire affected communities. “You guys have been amazing, all those communities out there affected are incredibly grateful.” Foodbank is accepting donations to assist its efforts via https://www.foodbank.org.au/ relief efforts: pages 8-9
Volunteers at Foodbank Victoria, including Peter Delmo (top), lend a hand sorting and packing food and water donated for the bushfire crisis. (Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 202706 Right: Pop star Lizzo at Foodbank with chief executive Dave McNamara. (Supplied)
12434887-CG03-20
■ Bushfire