Fire money for flood

By Kath Gannaway
THE Marysville community embraced the opportunity to return a favour, on Sunday raising more than $20,000 for Queensland flood victims.
Marysville Central became Fundraiser Central with a barbecue, music, auctions, raffles and the Marysville SES volunteers rattling donation tins.
What they got added to the $5000 donations from the Marysville Triangle Community Recovery Committee (CRC), the local Bendigo Bank branch and the Marysville Lions Club.
Seeing the tragedy and destruction unfold in Queensland, and the ongoing disaster in Victoria over the past week, has brought back memories of their own tragedy for the Marysville and surrounding communities. But it also brought back memories of the help they received from around Australia. An invitation to “ … support our cousins from up north” was all they needed to pitch in.
CRC chairman Tony Thompson said while people had been counselled to limit their exposure to the flood coverage – which was distressing – they naturally felt empathy and frustration.
“One of the points of doing this for the Marysville and Triangle areas it that it is mentally very good for the township to give something back and feel they are contributing,” he said.
“It has been very frustrating to see what’s going on in Queensland, and around Victoria, and it’s important to be able to do something.”
Jacqui and Ian Pearson were among the many residents who lost homes and businesses on Black Saturday who engaged in some competitive auction action.
The couple paid $195 for a ride in local pharmacist Andrew Clayton’s vintage MG. They were only the third highest bidders for a ride – but were still winners.
The highest bid of $250 went to Camberwell visitor Paul Todd while $200 was also accepted from Shelly Board, for husband Ian. Mr Clayton kindly offered three rides.
Ms Pearson said her mum Barbara Sellick, who turns 90 in July, will enjoy the ride, but the real incentive to bid was to help.
The Pearsons have rebuilt their luxury accommodation business ‘Delderfield’, but say business is far from back to normal.
“Having been on the receiving end as a village, it’s really important to know, number one that people are with you, and then the nuts and bolts of the cash money which is also really important,” Ms Pearson said. She said the floods had brought back more than memories. “I think we spent the whole week crying. It brought back the tears,” she said.
Mr Pearson said it was the spirit of giving and support which had kept people going after the fires.
“That’s why this sort of gathering is so good,” he said. “It brings back the spirit.” Mr Thompson said their Victorian ‘cousins’ had not been forgotten.
Marysville will celebrate Australia Day this week, and the third anniversary of Black Saturday will no doubt be commemorated.
“We are just rapt to reach our $20,000 target today and we will be doing something for the Victorian floods,” he said.
Raffles and an auction will almost certainly be part of whatever is planned and any donations to be added to those which local businesses are able to provide will be a great boost to the cause. Phone Mr Thompson on 0417 138 572 if you can help.