Dear Echo Supporter,

It's been a while since we emailed, and we hope you are well. We'd like to share some information and ask for your help, with our very first fundraising project for fellow Australians.

You may have heard of the impact of Cyclone Seroja on Kalbarri, Western Australia 19 days ago. The damage bill has run into the millions and more than half of the town was destroyed. As a result, many locals are displaced from their homes, and some have no insurance or means to rebuild what they lost.

We are now asking for your help, as together Echo International Aid and a team of stoic locals and ex-pats, have come together to launch the Kalbarri Rebuild Fund.

In the past 2 weeks we have raised $13,500 but so much more is needed. If you can spare a moment to donate and share this information with your networks, we would be truely grateful. Here is more information on what we are doing and how you can help.

SUPPORT THE REBUILDING FUND

You can donate now to the rebuilding fund we have established to assist rebuild efforts in the near future. Donations are currently being accepted in the following ways.

1. You can donate by means of our initial Facebook fundraiser at https://bit.ly/rebuild-kalbarri which has been extended for another 10 days. We ask that you add an extra 2% to your donation to cover the transaction fees that Facebook charge to provide this service. 100% of money paid out by Facebook will be allocated to this fund. Don't forget you can also share this Facebook fundraiser and invite people to donate directly.

2. You can make a tax deductible donation through Echo International Aid. We are a Registered Australian Charity who’s charter is to help remote and displaced communities all around the world, including Australia. Echo International Aid is staffed entirely by volunteers and administration costs are covered by our volunteers so that 100% of funds raised can be allocated to the projects we support. We will issue a tax deductible receipt for any donations made by means of the dedicated project page at https://echointernational.org.au/projects/kalbarri-rebuild-fund/   

3. For donations of $1000 or more, you can also make a direct deposit to Echo International Aid. Please ensure you include the word KALBARRI in the description and send an email to give@echointernational.org.au if you would like a receipt for tax purposes. 100% of money donated to Echo International Aid with the description KALBARRI will be given to this fund.

Account name: Echo International Aid Ltd

BSB: 063239

ACC: 10560222

We do not want money if you do not have the means to support this fund. We do not want money from residents of Kalbarri or Northampton Shire, or those immediately affected by the impacts of Cyclone Seroja.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD

You can also help us simply by sharing this information to your friends and family around Australia and around the world. Please invite them to like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kabarrirebuildfund/ and to subscribe for email updates on the Echo International Aid website.

ABOUT THE FUND

The Kalbarri Rebuild Fund would like to acknowledge the Nanda people as the traditional owners of the land.

Following the devastating Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seroja on Sunday 11 April 2021 that has destroyed our beautiful town of Kalbarri, we have joined together with other like-minded locals and ex-pats to start a community driven fund to assist with the rebuilding of the region for future generations. 

We understand that other parts of Western Australia have been impacted by Cyclone Seroja, however we have decided to focus our efforts on a Rebuilding Fund for Kalbarri - as this is our home - a place that we grew up in and a place that will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

The Kalbarri Rebuild Fund was launched on Tuesday 13 April 2021. Our aim is to raise $100,000 in the first 30 days and to work with a local committee to be in charge of administering the fund. 

Our efforts will not stop after the first 30 days. With the damage bill now estimated to run into the tens of millions, plan to continue to raise funds long after the initial cleanup is over, and after our initial target is reached.

This process could take many years and we are committed to ensuring the process is followed through in an honest, transparent and community centred way.

This is not an emergency relief fund. There are government initiatives for that, and other ways you can assist with the unfolding emergency. This is a fund to help rebuild homes, businesses and also infrastructure that was destroying by Cyclone Seroja. Priority will be given to those who live in the area and those who have no insurance and no means to pay for their own repairs or rebuilding works.

More information on the local community based beneficiary and the process for locals to access funds will be announced on Monday 3 May.

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