Hurstville's Chinese business community is rallying to support bushfire relief and the community work of the Salvation Army.
The Australia Chinese United Business Association Federation (ACUBAF) is holding its 2019 Charity Dinner on December 13 to raise funds for the Salvation Army Hurstville Corps which is celebrating its 120th anniversary.
But with its annual fundraiser just one month away, and with the bushfire emergency, the ACUBAF has also decided to support the Salvation head office with its Disaster Appeal which has a $3million target to support communities devastated by bushfires in NSW and Queensland.
The (ACUBAF) represents nearly 50 Australian Chinese Chambers of Commerce and business associations.
Last year the ACUBAF raised $70,000 for the local farmers suffering from the drought in Picton, Wollondilly Shire.
Georges River Councillor Nancy Liu, who is on the ACUBAF organising committee for the organisation's 2019 charity dinner said it had already been decided to support the Salvation Army Hurstville Corps for celebrating its 120th anniversary.
But with the bushfire emergency, the ACUBAF decided to expand support the Salvation's Army's Bushfire Appeal.
"It was an obvious move to also support the Bushfire Appeal," Cr Lui said.
"The general donation from the fundraising event would be given to the Chinese work of the Salvation Army Hurstville.
"But following the serious bush fires in NSW, during our fundraising event, we decided we would also raise a special donation for the current Salvos Bushfire Appeal."
Momo Zhang of the ACUBAF said the charity dinner not only celebrates the 120th celebrations of the Salvation Army Hurstville Corps and highlights the important work it does in the local community.
"We also want to let Australian-Chinese people know the work the Salvation Army does to help the Hurstville community," she said.
Georges River Council mayor, Kevin Greene said, "The Salvation Army are well recognised for their support of many local community programs. It is fantastic that the efforts of the hardworking Salvation Army Hurstville Corps are being recognised by the Chinese community along with the need to support those recently impacted by the devastating bushfires."
Captain Sean Li of the Salvation Army Hurstville Corps said with the 120th anniversary of the Hurstville Corps it was important to recognise that the community has experienced major demographic shifts in the last few decades.
"We now have a multicultural community which sometimes presents a challenge to organisations like us," he said.
"Although there are many common areas when it comes to community needs, it is also a reality that those various target groups can sometimes have distinct needs.
"We have definitely made some positive progress in this area. Our community services now include emergency relief, financial counselling, community meals, English classes and children's and family activities, in which both English speaking and Chinese speaking personnel are there to care for people and build healthy communities."
Mr Li said there is a still particular need for volunteers who can speak Chinese and English to help the Salvos with their various community programs in Hurstville.
The 2019 ACUBAF Charity Dinner and the Salvation Army Hurstville Corps 120th Anniversary will be held on Friday, December 13 at the Marana Auditorium, Hurstville Entertainment Centre, MacMahon Street, Hurstivlle
RSVP is by November 29.
Contact is Michael Yin on 0400 228 186, or Lina Zhao on 0414 199 888.
