Red Cross CEO thanks credit unions & building societies for giving almost $950,000 to Victorian bush
30 March 2009
Australian Red Cross CEO Robert Tickner this morning thanked the members, local communities and staff of credit unions and building societies for their generosity as a giant cheque of $943,250 dollars, raised for the Victorian bushfire appeal through Credit Union Foundation Australia, was presented to him in Sydney today.
“Thank you very much. It’s difficult to say thank you to a movement; and credit unions and building societies are very much a wider movement of people all over the country, so thank you very much for all that you’ve done; it’s a big fundraising exercise,” said Mr Tickner.
“I’ve been struck by the consequences of this disaster where hundreds of people lost their lives and it makes all of us, all of sudden, remember with a jolt, of what is important in life: family, friends and community. Here in Australia we’re not used to a magnitude of this disaster.
“I’ve also been struck by the absolute passion of those affected to rebuild their communities and of course credit unions and building societies are very much part of the fabric of society – and that’s what they seek to be.
"This is a fabulous show of support and I know so much of this comes from relatively small communities; but so it’s important for people to be mobilised in this way; we here at the Red Cross call it ‘the power of humanity’.
“The overall tally so far is in excess of $270 million dollars. So, from the Red Cross, thank you for being part of the ‘power of humanity’,” said Mr Tickner.
The Chair of Credit Union Foundation Australia John Baistow presented Red Cross CEO Robert Tickner with the giant cheque, saying the Victorian bushfires were the largest peace-time disaster in Australia.
“We want to thank all the members and local communities of credit union and building societies who donated to help those affected by the terrible Victorian bushfires. To be able to give the Red Cross such a large amount is a fantastic achievement,” said Abacus CEO Louise Petschler.
“Credit unions and mutual building societies have a strong presence in regional Australia and are an important part of the fabric of those regional communities,” says Louise Petschler, CEO of Abacus – Australian Mutuals.
CUFA is a not-for-profit organisation that works with Australian credit unions to achieve and promote sustainable corporate, economic, social and environmental practice. It has both a domestic and international development focus.
For more information on CUFA and its work, got to www.cufa.com.au.
For more information, contact:
Philip Lambert, Project Officer
Credit Union Foundation Australia
02 8299 9031
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Pamela Eldridge, Media Adviser
Abacus – Australian Mutuals
02 8299 9024, 0423 843 790
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