(23/1/2020) Fremantle Council donates $10,000 for bushfire relief

Fremantle Council has approved the donation of $10,000 to assist communities affected by the devastating bushfires across the country.

Last night the council’s Finance, Policy, Operations and Legislation committee approved the donation to the Freo Fire Fund.

The committee also approved the donation of any net surplus revenue from the two Fire Aid benefit concerts to be held at Fremantle Arts Centre later this month, and also offer in-kind support like free venue hire and public liability insurance cover to other fundraising events in Fremantle.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the council was pleased to be supporting the bushfire relief effort.

“The fires have caused so much destruction right across the country, but the response to them from the community and the outpouring of support for the people affected has been quite extraordinary,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“It’s great that the council is able to make its contribution to the Freo Fire Fund on behalf of all the residents and ratepayers of Fremantle, and also support the efforts of so many people who are staging their own events to raise funds for bushfire relief.”   

The Freo Fire Fund was set up earlier this month by a group of Fremantle community members who came together to collaborate, share skills and resources and raise money to help fire-affected communities.

The fund is held by the Fremantle Foundation as a separate Named Fund, and will direct the money raised to a number of different organisations involved in the bushfire relief effort including Australian Red Cross, Foodbank and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

As of Monday morning the fund had raised $12,106, with another four fundraising events held so far this week.

The Freo Fire Fund Skate Jam held at the Esplanade Youth Plaza on Friday night was attended by around 500 people raised more than $3000.

The City of Fremantle’s One Day event at Bathers Beach on Saturday will provide another opportunity to donate to the Freo Fire Fund.

The first Fire Aid concert at Fremantle Arts Centre on 31 January - featuring John Butler, The Waifs, San Cisco and Stella Donnelly – sold out in less than an hour. A second concert, with Carla Geneve stepping in for Stella Donnelly, will be held on 1 February.

The Fremantle Foundation was established in 2010 and is now WA’s premier community foundation.

It provides a way for individuals, families, businesses and groups to establish charitable funds, called Named Funds, to support causes they care about.

Fremantle Foundation provides the governance support to run the fund, which is held and managed under the umbrella of the Fremantle Foundation, and also provides social impact advice to help donors make the biggest difference.

To find out more about bushfire fundraising activities, register an event or learn more about the fund visit the Freo Fire Fund website.