Page 5 - Rotary Matters - April 2021

Drought relief gift cards

Our Rotary clubs have been distributing gift cards valued at $175,000 to farming families who have been
affected by the Drought in South Australia in the past three weeks. This is part of the Federal Government
Drought Communities Outreach Program, [DCOP] in conjunction with RAWCS, with gift cards to the value
of $500 each. Rotary District 9510, led by PDG Bob Cooper, has already underwritten 45 Drought Relief
projects to the value of $225,000.
Over 100 Farmers who received hay from Rotary were
also sent $500 gift cards. This amounted to over $50,000.

The other gift cards were distributed through a cluster
of events in five towns, Cowell, Cleve, Elliston, Wudinna
and Kimba on Eyre Peninsula. Amount distributed $75,500.
The Rotary Clubs of Pt Lincoln, Whyalla and Whyalla Norrie
provided free BBQ meals and drinks for over 300 attendees
at the events.

‘We were so lucky to have the wonderful Mary O’Brien on tour with us, spreading the important health
and wellbeing message “are you Bogged mate” across Eyre Peninsula’, PDG Bob said.

Also, at a cluster of events at Quorn, Wilmington,
Peterborough, Burra, Robertstown, Eudunda and
Waikerie, $48,000 Gift Cards distributed. The Rotary
Clubs of Port Augusta, Clare, Kapunda and Waikerie
also provided free BBQ meals and drinks for more than
200 attendees.
The final group of DCOP events were at Pinnaroo,
Karoonda, Tailem Bend and Keith. Over $50,000 worth
$500 gift cards application forms were distributed to
farming families. The Rotary Clubs of Loxton, Murray
Bridge, Tailem Bend and Bordertown (D9780) provided free BBQ meals and drinks for over 200 attendees.
The following message was received from the Prime Minster and Cabinet office -
‘The DCOP Coordinator General is travelling through regional South Australia where they have received
a little rain but are struggling with the worst drought conditions for 90 years.

Rotary has been doing some great work
over here arranging hay drops and supporting
communities, everybody has been extremely
complimentary of the work you have all
been doing’.

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