What a week!
Hey Fam, Happy Sunday! We are having a slow weekend doing not much at all. It is finally raining here in the Perth Metro area after a horror week of bushfires in our North East.
If you don't know or didn't hear there has been a bushfire emergency in place for basically the entire week. Starting in Wooroloo, the fire spread dangerously fast and had a fire front of over 100kms wide at some stages. The fire was out of control and uncontained for much of the week, sadly destroying almost 90 homes. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
Further to this, after wild weather in WA's Gascoyne region, up north. There has been some extreme flooding with some places having up to 200mm of rain in this weather system alone. Many people have had their homes flooded and been left displaced or in their homes without access to running water or power.
Not only did our community face two emergencies this week, amidst it all we were also living in a hard lockdown. Last Sunday night at 6pm, Mark McGowan announced there had been a community transmitted case of COVID19. A hotel security guard caught the virus from a COVID positive patient in hotel quarantine. Somehow, with some luck and rule following our community was able to ease up restrictions after 5 days due to no further cases being recorded - what an outstanding result! We have moved to limited capacities and still wearing masks but it is a small price to pay.
So, as bad things 'come in threes' I am really hoping we are over the worst. However, for those that have been directly affected by these tragedies it won't be an easy road. If you've been reading this thinking you'd like to help, here's how you can.
The Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund (LMDRF)
The LMDRF was established in conjunction with the State Government to provide financial assistance to individuals for the alleviation and relief of distress, suffering and personal hardships, brought about by any disaster or emergency within Western Australia declared by the Western Australian Government or for which the LMDRF Board considers assistance is warranted. At the time of writing this the Wooroloo and Hills Bushfire Appeal was at an amazing $6,457,828.23!
The WA Emergency Services Volunteer Hardship Assistance Scheme was formally established in 2014 with the stated object of distributing funds to provide direct relief from poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability, destitution or helplessness to Emergency Services Volunteers and their families.
Native Animal Rescue
Native Animal Rescue is a not-for-profit, non-government incorporated body licensed under the name Fauna Rehabilitation Foundation. The Fauna Rehabilitation Foundation was founded in 1982 and has its headquarters based on a 15 hectare natural bush site in Malaga, Western Australia.
These are just 3 of many ways you can help. For an extensive list head to the Donations Page on the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) website.
Lastly, we'd like to take a moment to thank EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. No matter how big or small your contribution to these emergencies was. From career firefighters, to volunteers, those offering a warm bed or a hot meal. Those who housed animals and helped people flee.
The silver lining in all of the bad is always how a community responds and we are SO PROUD to be be apart of this amazing WA community. We love you.
- Beth + Cam
