The legacy of the tragic 2008 Victorian bushfires has come to the aid of Queensland flood victims with the launch of online community registry, Disaster Relief Australia.
The registry, based on the same model used to assist hundreds of families in Victoria, acts as a noticeboard for victims seeking goods and services.
Established by the Fitzroy Oxfam Group, chair Brian Moran said the site is a voluntary project and aimed at easing the load on logistics during the crisis.
“There’s an outpouring of support from Australians wishing to help, but often the emergency organisations don’t have sufficient resources to cope with either the communications or the organisation and logistics of accepting them,” he said in a statement.
“This site will help connect the flood suffers who have lost their homes and are in need of basic essentials such as accommodation, food and clothing, with the many Australians who want to do everything they can to help.”
Australians are able to contribute to the self-managing registry, which Moran said he hopes will result in similar donations that defined the Victorian bushfire appeal.
“During the 2008 Victorian Bushfire emergency, the online registry proved to be invaluable in streamlining the exchange of donated goods and services,” he said.
“We hope the families affected by the Queensland floods get a similar result from it.”
Donations can be made at disasterreliefaustralia.wikispaces.com.
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