Over $340,000 raised by celebrity bushfire relief concert Fire Aid 2020 is being pre-loaded onto EFTPOS cards linked to Southern Highlands businesses, tackling two disasters with one innovative idea.
The proceeds from the bushfire relief concert led by music legends John Waters and Leo Sayer is not only helping bushfire victims repair their lives, but stimulating the economy at a time when it is needed most.
About 40 EFTPOS cards with $2,000 of credit have already been distributed to families who lost their homes in the summer bushfires in the Southern Highlands, with another 30 cards ready to go.
"It doesn't rebuild any houses, but what we're doing is community-based," concert organiser John Waters said.
"We can't give people money, but people can shop in local businesses to give people that extra helping hand.
"Somebody goes to a local hardware store to get something for their damaged property and everyone wins."
The money was distributed by local charity Southern Highlands Foundation, which agreed to absorb all administration costs to ensure every dollar was donated to the community.
"As a charity it's hard for us to hand cash out to people so we came up with an EFTPOS card that is used in crisis management across Australia," Southern Highland Foundation chair Shelley Boyce said.
"It's a wonderful thing because they can use it at their discretion which gives them dignity about deciding what they want to use the money for."
Economic lift during coronavirus
When the Fire Aid 2020 concert happened on January 24 this year, much of Australia was reeling from the devastating impact of bushfire.
John Waters described his Southern Highlands community as being in "catatonic shock".
The 6,000 people in attendance could never have predicted their donation would be helping Australia through another crisis just three months later.
"We contacted 40 companies in the Southern Highlands that are either privately owned by families or privately run franchises, and they've all agreed to be our merchants," Shelley Boyce said.
"We've done a lot of walking the pavement and talking to these merchants who have offered incredible discounts for people who come in with the Fire Aid card."
Robertson resident Waters said it was satisfying being able to lend his profile as an entertainer to benefit his local community.
"It's been fantastic and extremely rewarding for the soul," he said.
"The main benefit when we look back is that the concert was such a magic event that exceeded all hopes and expectations. And it lifted the spirits of everyone.
"There was a healing process and that was the most uplifting thing."
