Victorian Jewish bushfire appeal raises $3m for regional schools and towns

PAULA TOWERS reports on an initiative that brought help to bushfire-affected communities and forged bonds between regional Victorians and Melbourne Jews.

Soon after the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires had passed, Victorian Jewish community leader David Smorgon visited the Victorian regional town of Corryong. “It is one thing to read about it in the newspapers, watch it on your TV screen,” Smorgon observed. “But witnessing firsthand the devastation … was very eye-opening, and very troubling to see the damage that was so widespread.”

Smorgon immediately enlisted a small group of Jewish philanthropists - Ruth Alter, Fiona Geminder and Ian Davis – to form the Victorian Jewish Bushfire Relief Appeal (VJBRA). In record time, about three months, this appeal raised just over $3 million from the Jewish community, most of it within the first few weeks.

Over the past two years, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) has distributed the proceeds of this appeal to those areas most in need. “From the minute we asked the JCCV to be involved in our bushfire relief fund, we knew we were in the best hands,” Ruth Alter told The Jewish Independent.

The committee believed the community would have a greater impact by collecting and allocating the money from one central appeal, JCCV CEO Judy Fetter told The Jewish Independent Media.

Recipients were selected by an allocations committee, with the appeal focused on opportunities to enhance education (50% of the allocated funds) and support for rebuilding projects (33%). The remainder was distributed to the environment, wellbeing and administration. As of July, the funds have been allocated and most of the projects completed.

Schools also benefited from a collaboration between the appeal and the St Vincent de Paul Society, which created a $300,000 Bushfire Education Scholarship Fund. Over 80% of the 70 scholarships – awarded to assist students with their transition from Year 12 to tertiary studies – were funded by the VJBRA.

“After moving away from my parents for the first time to a new unknown place a long way away, I settled down and completed my Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management … I can’t put into words just how grateful I am for the support received from St Vincent de Paul and the Jewish Community of Victoria. Thank you so much," Chelsea said.

The VJBRA also provided a number of new playgrounds in bushfire-affected towns. In Mallacoota, new multi-purpose courts were built for older children to play basketball, soccer and a range of other sports and activities.

At Tambo Upper Primary School, in East Gippsland, work has begun on a new ninja playground, and $70,000 was donated to purchase a new minibus for sports trips and excursions. Ruby is one of many to use the new bus. “All of us were affected by the bushfire in my house and a lot of others. The new bus has made going to school so much easier, and for the parents it is easier to go to work and not worry. Most parents did not let their kids go on the old bus because they were worried about it breaking down.”

Other key projects funded by the VJBRA include rebuilding the Cudgewa Community Hall. Located in north-east Victoria, Cudgewa is a town of around 300 people. During the Black Summer fires, 15 homes were lost and the community was left devastated.The hall was opened in May by former Governor-General General Sir Peter Cosgrove. “At Cudgewa - that’s where the Jewish Community Council of Victoria stood tall,” Cosgrove said at the opening.

In addition, VJBRA provided more than $50,000 to BlazeAid, a volunteer-run organisation which helps farmers and landowners – many of whom are uninsured or underinsured – deal with bushfire damage. Just over 50 per cent of VJBRA’s contribution went towards purchasing fencing materials, with the remainder providing facilities for volunteers, including sleeping shelters, fully stocked equipment trailers as well as food, power and petrol.

Ruth Alter said that it was both heart-warming and inspiring to meet them as well as to hear first-hand the huge impact of the appeal.

“We felt the overwhelming gratitude from these communities when we visited the affected areas. It was a very proud moment for us all,” she said.  “We have really made a considerable impact on the regional areas. We definitely raised the profile of the Victorian Jewish community. As a result, we are now seen as a very charitable and caring community.”

Judy Fetter said: “Many of the residents of East Gippsland and the Upper Murray – where most of the funds were allocated – have likely never knowingly met a Jewish person. The on-the-ground engagement of JCCV executive and staff provided an opportunity for shared understanding, empathy and outreach with remote Victorian communities.”

Photo: Judy Fetter, CEO of the JCCV (front left) and Daniel Aghion, President of the JCCV (back right) meet with staff and students at Mallacoota P-12 College (Courtesy Mallacoota group)