On behalf of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI) and Koorie communities across Victoria, I would like to thank you for your generous donation to assist Koorie families and communities that have been affected by the recent devastating bushfires.
Your generosity will go a long way to helping Koorie families and communities affected by the fires gain access basic products and services that have been cut off or lost during the crisis.
It gives me great pleasure to announce that approximately $30,000 in gift cards, along with countless amounts of physical goods including toiletries, sanitary items and baby goods were donated to the cause.
The donations were collected from the VAEAI office in Northcote this week and transported to Bairnsdale, to be distributed to the affected communities via a coordinated effort between the VAEAI Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups (LAECGs) and the relevant Local Aboriginal Co-Operatives.
Co-Operative locations:
- Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Inc.
- Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative (GEGAC)
- Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust
- Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association (LEAHA)
- Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation
It must be noted that this entire donation collection would not have been possible without the tireless and thankless work of a number of individuals and organisations that volunteered their time and resources.
VAEAI would like to extend a huge thank you to the following:
- Jirra Harvey – Kalinya Communications
- Thara Brown – Wala Connections
- Jaynaya Winmar – Blakbone Sistahood
- Wamarra Projects
We wish all Koorie families and communities affected by the devastating bushfires all the very best in their recovery, and again thank all those that donated to this fantastic cause.
Yours sincerley,
Lionel Bamblett – General Manager
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI)
