RALLY TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF FIRES
The Gold Coast has a long history of supporting other communities in the midst of an emergency
BUSHFIRES have swept the nation, leaving devastation in their wake and displacing thousands of people.
This week’s events have left Australia in shock as the ferocious blazes destroyed towns and claimed people’s lives with many more yet to be accounted for.
It’s devastation on a scale rarely seen before in Australia.
But it has also brought out the best in people, with offers of help, charity and assistance pouring in from across the nation, including the Gold Coast.
The Coast has always been quick to lend a hand to victims of misfortune.
Back in 1983 Australia’s southern states were hit by devastating bushfires in what became known as Ash Wednesday.
On Wednesday, February 16, 1983 more than 180 fires swept across Victoria and South Australia, buffeted by winds of up to 110km/h and came on the back of a long period of drought.
The horror events of that day led to the deaths of 75 people and left more than 2000 people injured.
It was Australia’s worst bushfire disaster before 2009’s Black Saturday.
But in the aftermath of the flames, Gold Coasters stepped up to lend a hand.
The Gold Coast City Council and Gold Coast Bulletin joined together to launch an appeal for the victims of Ash Wednesday.
The first donation, of $1000, came from former mayor Robert Neumann and his company.
Mr Neumann told the Bulletin he donated the money in thanks to the people from southern states who offered help to the Coast during the 1974 foods.
“It was fantastic the way the people down south, particular the Victorians, donated so generously to us,” he said. “Now it’s our turn.” Then-premier Sir John Bjelke-Petersen put up $50,000 for bushfire victims while then-mayor Denis O’Connell announced plans to personally deliver a cheque to then-Victorian premier John Cain.
Many Gold Coasters, themselves former Victorians, were left devastated by the disaster’s impact.
Local businesses also chipped in.
Mermaid Beach clothing manufacturers Prestige Prints donated clothes to be flown by Ansett to Victoria.
The Labrador Memorial Senior Citizens Centre joined the relief operation while Main Beach theme park Andalusia Park announced plans for a benefit night with proceeds going to the bushfire victims.
One Gold Coast man lost his cousin, a volunteer firefighter who was killed along with 11 others when they were engulfed by the blaze
But Gold Coasters also looked to step up and help out in other ways.
Burleigh Heads resident Robyn Finlen offered her home to be used for free accommodation for refugees of the fire emergency.
“If people could take some of them in for a while it could give them time to sort themselves out,” she said.
The Gold Coast Visitors and Conventions Bureau stepped in offering 20 fire victims from Victoria and South Australia a free one-week holiday to the Gold Coast.
Bureau chairman Bert Skinner said Greyhound Bus Company had agreed to provide free transport.
“It is our aim to make the holiday one which will be remembered but above all to try for one week to erase the memories of the horror fires,” he said.
“We want to extend our sympathy to those people who have suffered and this is one way in which we can show it.”
The Gold Coast’s community clubs stepped up too, with the Apex Club along with Southport RSL to collect more than $6000 in a single day.
Now as the nation suffers again, help will again be needed.