To our Members, Affiliates and Friends,

Following the disastrous bushfires on Black Saturday, February 7th 2009, the RHSV set up a Disaster Relief Fund with an initial grant of $10,000. With generous support from our members, affiliated clubs and clubs who belong to Garden Clubs of Australia, the fund increased to nearly $30,000. To date we have made Grants of $9200 to some very deserving recipients. The largest grant was $3200.00 to purchase 10,000 daffodil bulbs. This was in answer to a request by the Shire of Murrindindi who will plant the bulbs along the roadway leading through Narbethong.

The burnt-out areas are still coming to grips with the tragedy. Also many community buildings are still in the planning stages or are slowly being re-built. We are waiting on advice from the Shire of Murrindindi on how to give further help to Kinglake and Marysville.

Hasten slowly seems to be the order of the day. Remember, if you know of any community who needs help, not just from bushfires as floods are devastating too, please e-mail or write to our secretary.

Your donations, made out to the RHSV Disaster Relief Fund, are very gratefully received as this Fund will be on-going for some time yet.

RHSV Disaster Relief Committee

*** Since the commencement of this fund we have been joined by the GARDEN CLUBS of AUSTRALIA and with their support have increased the amounts donated and the subsequent beneficial works we can undertake.  It is truly an Australia wide fund that shows the great support and unity of Australia’s  Gardeners.