Teaming up with the Brumbies to give kids somewhere to learn

GIVIT recently headed to Batlow with Super Rugby AU 2020 champions the Plus500 Brumbies to visit family in Batlow whose home, property and livestock was ravaged during last summer's bushfires.

Due to generous donations from Plus500 and Brumbies supporters, we were able to help this family during this indescribably tough time. With their family home destroyed and COVID-19 shutting down local schools, the large family's children (they are also foster carers) had nowhere to home school. We donated a converted shipping container to give the large family's kids a place to homeschool.

We visited the Bellchambers property with the Brumbies to meet the family and see their new home school classroom.

Brumbies players and GIVIT's Caroline Odgers spent the day visiting residents of Tumut, Bemboka and Broulee who have been directly helped by the Brumbies Rugby Bushfire Appeal, which raised over $50,000 for GIVIT's NSW Bushfires Appeal.

Plus500 Brumbies CEO, Phil Thomson said, "As a team and an organisation, we’re immensely proud to have helped raise this money for a truly worthy cause. The bushfire crisis affected all of us in our region, and it's important for us at the Brumbies to play our part in the healing and rebuilding process.”

“It was an emotional day, meeting those people who were so heavily affected by the crisis, and who have benefited from this funding and we're so glad we could see the great work that's being done to help in their recovery."

"It's been a fantastic opportunity to be able to get out into the fire-ravaged community that is Tumut and Batlow and the surrounding regions. We haven't been able to get out to here as we would have liked at the start of the year, firstly the smoke and also the fires, and now into COVID times.

It's now a nice opportunity to get out there and actually spread a bit of joy and spread a bit of cheer with the grand final victory, but also get into the community and connect again."

BRUMBIES FLANKER TOM CUSACK

After the events of 2020 and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's easy to forget that during the latter part of 2019 and the early part of 2020, the world's eyes were on Australia.

The full effects of bushfires often don't hit home until months later, and the brave victims of the Black Summer Bushfires spent 2020 grappling with replacing and repairing homes and property, financial hardship, COVID-19 lockdowns, social isolation and mental ill-health.

It's crucial for these Aussies to know they haven't been forgotten. You can help by donating items or money to our New South Wales Bushfire Appeal or our Victorian Bushfire Appeal. We're working with a variety of local charities and support organisation to provide aid and relief, and your donation will make a difference.

"From Kiah to Queanbeyan, Broulee to Batlow and the dozens of bushfire-hit communities across New South Wales, donations from the champion Brumbies and their supporters have allowed GIVIT to provide exactly what's needed by stoic locals in need.

GIVIT ACT AND SOUTH EAST NSW REGIONAL MANAGER, CAROLINE