Back to School and Beyond Bushfire Appeal

In 1983 Hills communities were devastated by fire just like many Victorian communities have been through this Black Summer.

Cockatoo Primary along with other Hills schools were either burnt or badly affected and thousands of children’s lives were disrupted. So when Darrelyn Boucher, Principal of Cockatoo PrImary school wanted to start a campaign to help children in bushfire affected areas with much needed stationery items to get back to school, she called on local community groups like Emerald Co-Op, Lions Club and Emerald Village Newsagency for support.

Co-Op chairman Ray Spencer and Directors Peter Maloney and Christine Weller, got together with Darrelyn and local Mum Lisa Bloore in the Co-Op boardroom and Back to School and Beyond was born. Back to School and Beyond gave local community members a chance to help fire affected kids get on with their lives in the short term and also contribute to their mental health and well being in the long term. And their generosity was fantastic, huge loads of stationery were donated and sorted and made ready to be freighted to Mallacoota.

As usual, Co-Op Manager Len O’ Donnell on behalf of all staff and shareholders was only too happy to help and the precious back to school cargo with a special message from our community to the Mallacoota kids, was put on pallets, shrink wrapped and the Co-Op will make sure it’s safely delivered.

Along with the school supplies, the Back to School and Beyond campaign raised over $3000 that will be used to help fire affected kids with positive mental health strategies to cope with the aftermath of these devastating fires.

The Back to School and Beyond campaign proves once again just what can be achieved when communities like ours work together.

Thanks once again to all involved.

Christine Weller, Director, Emerald Co-Op