Grain donations from South Australian growers and a financial donation from Glencore Grain and Viterra have raised more than $200,000 for local charities to assist growers and communities affected by last year’s Pinery bushfire.
The funds have been raised through a $100,000 contribution by the company and $102,789.59 worth of grain donations.
The beneficiaries of the donation are as follows:
- BlazeAid $135,000
- Trees For Life $50,000
- Country Women’s Association $17,789.59
Tim Krause, Viterra’s General Manager Operations, said he was very pleased to be making these donations on behalf of the company and the growers who generously donated grain.
“As key participants in the grain industry in South Australia, we are acutely aware of the devastating impact that the bushfire had on local communities. These communities are where our business operates and where our employees, growers, carriers and domestic customers live and work,” Tim said.
“We established a Lower North Grain Growers Fire Fund NGR where growers could donate parcels of grain. The Fund had been left open for the entire harvest to increase the amount of grain received.”
“Glencore Grain purchased a majority of the donated grain at the highest daily cash price and the proceeds were reserved for the fire recovery efforts.”
“The amount of grain donated by growers was overwhelming, and we would like to thank them for their generosity and community spirit.”
The company worked with its Strategic Silo Committee Chairs, who represent local growers in the region, and BlazeAid, Trees For Life and Country Women’s Association were identified as providing significant long-term support to growers and communities in the region.
“BlazeAid has recently finished their work in the region; however, the value of their work for landholders is highly regarded and the donation will go towards fencing trailers that will remain in South Australia to support future relief efforts,” Tim said.
“Trees For Life is facilitating a multi-year planting program in the region to ensure the land is properly revegetated over the coming seasons. The Country Women’s Association is providing ongoing assistance for landowners who lost homes, buildings and possessions.”
Kevin Butler, BlazeAid President, was in awe of the amount donated: “These funds will allow us to purchase six ‘combat ready’ tandem trailers and one ‘workshop’ trailer to support BlazeAid’s future disaster relief work in South Australia. The Pinery bushfire was devastating for the region and BlazeAid volunteers have already cleared away 590 kilometres of damaged fencing and erected 364km of new fences across 202 properties.”
Natasha Davis, Trees For Life CEO said: “The money donated will be used to provide subsidised native seedling orders for landholders through our iconic Tree Scheme. We anticipate around 100,000 seedlings will be able to be grown thanks to this generous support. Trees For Life has already been working with councils and other groups to provide landholders with native seedlings this winter and it is fantastic we can extend this into 2017.”
Linda Bertram, CWA State President said: “The Association very much appreciates this generous donation which will go towards farmers in the Pinery area to replace the tools and other equipment needed to rebuild their properties and sow their crops.”
More information about Glencore Grain and Viterra can be found at www.glencoregrain.com.au and www.viterra.com.au
More information about BlazeAid can be found at www.blazeaid.com
More information about Trees For Life can be found at www.treesforlife.org.au
More information about Country Women’s Association can be found at www.sacwa.org.au
Media contacts:
Jane McBride
Communications Manager
Glencore Grain and Viterra
08 8304 1368
0448 910 886
Kevin Butler
President, BlazeAid
0418 530 471
Natasha Davis
CEO Trees For Life
0419 807 437
Linda Bertram
State President, Country Women’s Association
8332 4166