Furniture for fire victims
The Gippsland Water Factory alliance is set to donate surplus furniture, appliances and household goods from 24 houses to local bushfire victims.
The furniture, including beds, washing machines, dining suites, TVs, vacuum cleaners, kitchen utensils and unused linen, will be donated to the Salvation Army for distribution to people in the Gippsland area who lost their homes and possessions in the devastating fires.
The alliance has leased and furnished a number of homes in Traralgon for industry experts from interstate and around the world working on the Gippsland Water Factory (GWF) project over the last three years.
As construction moves towards completion, staff levels on the project have declined and the number of houses being leased has also reduced, leaving a surplus of furniture in storage that was to be auctioned.
According to GWF alliance project manager, Jeff Schwisow, the four companies that make up the alliance – Gippsland Water, CH2M HILL, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Transfield Services – quickly agreed to contribute the furniture to the relief appeal.
``Like everyone, the GWF alliance is devastated by the bushfires that have ravaged Gippsland and affected so many local people, including our own workforce and staff,’’ Mr Schwisow said.
A number of GWF staff and contractors were directly impacted by the fires, with one losing his home and others having to defend their properties or evacuate.
``The loss of life and property is hard to comprehend and the alliance wanted to do all it could to assist straight away. But we also wanted to ensure we continued to support the community through the long rebuilding process,’’ he said.
``We have surplus furniture from 24 houses and units in storage and will donate this to the Salvation Army to help the people of Gippsland who have lost so much. Hopefully it will make a small difference to help those who now have to piece their lives back together.’’
In addition to the donation of furniture from the alliance, GWF’s staff and workforce are raising funds and collecting donations of goods to help victims in the affected communities of both the Churchill and Boolarra fires. All money raised by the workforce for the charity fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the alliance.
Page updated 18 February 2009 |