The public can donate cash at the Dorrigo Banana Coast Credit Union to help the most needy recover from the fires, Leonie Wright, secretary of the Tyringham Rural Fire Service, announced today.
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"We have received such great donations from many communities in the area, but we would like to spread out the love after the crisis has passed," Ms Wright said.
"Animals are suffering and sometimes people forget, but Beaumont's Produce at Dorrigo is accepting cash donations so that locals can get stock feed to keep the animals alive," Tyringham RFS volunteer Debbie Thornhill said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and senior state politicians visited the region yesterday. The party included Deputy Premier John Barilaro; the Hon. Melinda Pavey, Minister for Water, Property and Housing; the Hon. David Elliott, Minister for Police and Emergency Services; and the Hon. Adam Marshall, Northern Tablelands MP and Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales.
Ms Berejiklian attended a briefing at Tyringham, then talked to each fire fighter and volunteer. People smiled, and her visit seemed to provide some relief and support to those gathered.
The official visitors witnessed the generosity of New England local communities. The local police brought meals from a Woolgoolga curry restaurant to feed the volunteers.
But the Tyringham volunteers were tired; they had fought the fires for nearly a week - a week of intense activity by extraordinary people, Ms Pavey said.
Shakti said: "I have had about nine hours' sleep in the last four days. I get to sleep when the winds die down."
Mr Barilaro announced that the Tyringham RFS will receive $20,000 to update their kitchen.
Mr Elliott released a statement on Wednesday:
"Busy day as the Premier, Deputy Premier, and I joined Adam Marshall and Melinda Pavey in touring some of the regions worst affected by bushfire. The drought has been devastating for remote communities; and as a city-based MP, I was humbled to visit these areas with the Deputy Premier and my National Party colleagues. It's so easy for us to take water for granted in Sydney. A huge shout out to the 700 volunteers (including the team from North Rocks in my Electorate!) who have taken the time to protect our country cousins from these bushfires which are just being made worse by the drought. Unfortunately, I'm expecting to make more trips like this over the next eight months. It's a good time to start thinking what we can all individually do to help these wonderful people."