Fundraisers held around the country have garnered enormous traction online and raised millions of dollars for the people whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed.
Individuals of Kyabram and district have also done their part.
The Kyabram Free Press has covered a number of stories about locals and their selfless efforts during the past few months, such as Dylan Cartwright’s supply runs to southern NSW as well as Strike Team 2096’s trip to the blaze at Mt Hotham.
But what can Kyabram do? As a town and as a collective, what can we do?
That is a question lifelong resident Peter Nelson asked himself recently.
“There are plenty of things happening with bushfire relief but my thoughts are, as Kyabram, what can we do?” he said.
“There’s around four or five charities listed by the council where you can make donations, so I thought if Kyabram channels all of theirs to just one then it gets more concentrated.
“I’m sure quite a few people are unsure about where they can send their money to.”
So, the Kyabram Development Committee (for which Peter is the treasurer) and the Kyabram Chamber of Commerce have agreed to conduct a meeting during the next couple of weeks to help narrow down the best options and ideas.
If you have an idea about how to best help out those affected by the bushfires – whether that be charity suggestions, community events or even donating your own time – they want to hear it.
The Kyabram Community and Learning Centre has opened its doors as a collection point for suggestions, which you can submit by email or by paying them a visit.
Peter said if the right efforts were made, Kyabram could provide support for the foreseeable future, not just until the fire season quietened down.
“There are plenty of people donating but if we get something cranked up a little bit around Ky, it might prompt someone to take that final step and do something,” he said.
“There is more clout with a ‘we’ than a ‘you’.”
If you are interested in submitting an idea, contact Kyabram Community and Learning Centre by email at kclc@kclc.com.au or by phone on 5852 0000.
More stories on the bushfires:
Special delivery from the Ky West Hotel
Kyabram district hit by two fires in one day
State Government to waive landfill fee for bushfire victims