By KATH GANNAWAY
WHEN the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal officially closed in April 2009, more than $379 million had been donated. That built to over $400 million, making it the single largest charity in Australian history.
The generosity of Australians and people from around the world was staggering, and for so many of the people affected, it was the cornerstone of their rebuilding – in bricks and mortar, physically, mentally and emotionally.
But five years on, not everyone has been able to rebuild, for whatever reasons.
In Steels Creek, one family that has rebuilt is surrounded by neighbours living in sheds. Others abandoned their dream to rebuild on the land they loved because of the BMO, others just haven’t been able to face the prospect.
The work continues with VBAF funds still working with individuals and within communities.
Figures and statistics provided by VBAF provide a background to the progress that has been made, and to the ongoing support.
Here is some of what the statistics tell us.
Of the 268 households who had not rebuilt in mid-2012, 95 per cent have now been provided with access to assistance through the VBAF Further Housing Assistance Gift, and/or the State Government’s Rebuilding Advisory Service and Bushfire Buy-back Scheme.
About 95 per cent of the appeal funds – $383.3million with the remaining $18.7 million is committed but distributed and the remaining funds are allocated to programs and projects.
As of 30 December 2013, the fund had made more than $46,000 in payments, the vast majority of them to individuals and families impacted by the fire.
More than $111million was paid to people whose homes were destroyed, while $31 million was paid to those whose homes were damaged.
The fund spent more than $225 million on housing support – about 60 per cent of the total Fund.
Over the past four years, VBAF has funded more than 10,000 counselling sessions and continues to fund high-intensive psychological support to those most in need and this will continue until the end of November this year.
Over 1300 bush-fire affected residents have accessed the fund’s psychological support services.
Statistics will never tell the whole story; and money will never fix all the problems, or heal all the wounds.
The challenge over the next five years, and possibly longer, is to ensure that those who remain most vulnerable are not forgotten.
