Sutherland District Trade Union Club (Tradies) is contributing $100,000 to the bush fire relief and recovery efforts.
"With so many communities, particularly across the east coast of Australia, affected by devastating bush fires, Tradies is committed to living our values and assisting the relief and recovery of communities and environments where we can," Tradies president Dennis McHugh said
.
"On behalf of our members, Tradies will be contributing $100,000 to organisations supporting bushfire-affected communities, livelihoods, wildlife and our environment."
The organisations Tradies will be contributing to include:
$45,000 to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund
$15,000 to the ClubsNSW Bushfire Appeal
$10,000 to the NSW Rural Fire Service
$10,000 to WIRES
$10,000 to Treading Lightly Inc
$5,000 to Aussie Ark
$5,000 to ACTU Bushfire Relief Fund
"In selecting where to donate our resources, we focused on supporting those providing immediate assistance as well as those working on the long-term recovery process," Mr McHugh said.
Tradies general manager Jason McMaster added, "We also sought to ensure our contribution aligned with our purpose, 'Proudly supporting our members, community and environment'.
"Our members and communities in bushfire affected areas have lost loved ones, homes, properties, businesses and more.
"Our environment has also suffered terribly with estimates that almost a billion native animals have been killed or injured and many more have no habitat to return to.
"For this reason, one of the organisations we chose to support is Aussie Ark. They are a conservation organization dedicated to protecting our native species and ecosystems through conservation and rewilding.
"After the devastation of the fires, their work will be particularly important in re-populating and protecting native species in the immediate and long-term future."
Aussie Ark President Tim Faulkner said his organisation is proud to be partnering with Tradies to deliver on the ground conservation outcomes for native Australian wildlife.
In addition to their financial contribution, Tradies has also been collecting back to school supplies for students on the South Coast.
In a partnership with Woonona East Public School, the club announced the collection point last week and have been overwhelmed by the response from their members and the wider community.
