Bushfire Assistance Update – 18 February 2020

18 Feb 2020

Bushfire Assistance Update - damage in Cobargo - Photo by Jeffrey Lee

RSL NSW is helping veterans impacted by fires through RSL DefenceCare’s Disaster Assistance Fund. RSL sub-Branches are coordinating local support and distributing financial assistance to those who need it.

As of 17 February, the bushfire assistance provided so far includes:

$30,600 to five RSL sub-Branches to distribute locally, and
$84,038 directly to 24 individual veterans in affected areas.

A total of $111,638 has been provided to veterans and their families for bushfire assistance so far. This figure is on top of financial assistance provided in 2019 for other disasters such as drought.

Click here to see more detail on the assistance provided so far.

Where the Assistance is Going

Veterans in the following areas have received bushfire assistance.

Lower North Coast District
New England District
Western District
Monaro Far South Coast
North Coast District
Central Southern District

Graeme McLaughlin is a veteran who received help from RSL DefenceCare.

“I’m delighted to attest to how quickly RSL DefenceCare responded when our home was lost to a bushfire in early January. The cash support offered within days of the event was just what we needed to help us at the time. It just took one phone call.”

Thank You to RSL Sub-Branches

Contributions from sub-Branches to the Disaster Assistance Fund make this bushfire assistance possible. A full list of contributing sub-Branches can be seen here.

So far, RSL sub-Branches have contributed over $468,266. This leaves a balance of $353,627 which will be used for disaster assistance. Members can track the use of this balance by referring to the Financial Transparency: Balance of Funds page within the Members’ Suite.

Our gratitude also goes to the organisations and individual donors who have generously supported RSL DefenceCare.

RSL Foundation Bushfire Relief Grants

RSL National’s RSL Foundation is offering cash grants of up to $10,000 to help alleviate the suffering of eligible people who have suffered a loss due to the recent fires. Read more about this announcement from RSL National.