FOUR Orange Rotary Clubs have combined their efforts to raise thousands of dollars to provide shelter and drinkable water to people displaced by Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu.
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The Rotary Club of Orange, Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak, Rotary Club of Orange North and Rotary Club of Orange Calare pooled their resources to buy shelter boxes that contained tents and cooking appliances, as well as water treatment equipment.
Volunteers spent Friday and Saturday manning stalls in Summer Street, Anson Street, the Woolworths car park and the North Orange shopping centre to raise the funds.
Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak president-elect Graeme McLean said his club raised about $4300 including about 30kg ($1800) in coins at the North Orange shopping centre. An additional $800 donation was made to the club on Tuesday.
“When there are situations that occur it’s amazing how quickly Rotarians can band together to rally the troops for these fundraising activities,” Mr McLean said.
“I think the people of Orange have been so generous, I’m certainly honoured to be working as a Rotarian and working with these people.”
However, a district rotary conference at Cowra attended by Rotarians from Orange on the weekend did affect the number of volunteers some clubs could mobilise.
Graeme Tupper from the Rotary Club of Orange said his club raised about $430 opposite the Post Office in Summer Street while Ian Sawtell from Orange North Rotary Club said they raised $600 on the weekend, but had also made a $5000 direct donation to go towards the shelter boxes.
The shelter boxes cost $800 each and the water treatment kits costs $3500 and will be distributed in the outer islands of Vanuatu.
Disaster aid volunteers have been assessing what is needed on the islands, with the results expected to be known on Friday.
tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au
