By Danielle Kutchel
Following a mammoth donation to the bushfire relief effort in January, the Hazara community have opened their hearts again with yet another donation to help those who’ve lost everything.
On Saturday 1 February, representatives of the Afghan Australian Civil Society Organisation (AACSO) presented a cheque for $18,000 to CFA District 8 headquarters.
The money poured in online from the Hazara community both within and outside of Australia.
It followed a donation of approximately $160,000 in mid January.
“We acknowledge this amount is nothing to respond to the tragic bushfires we all have been dealing with,” said Reza Andesha, chairperson of AACSO and the Volleyball Association of the Hazara in Victoria.
“However, through this initiative we would like to show our respect, solidarity and sympathy to those who have been affected by this tragic occurrence, and to support our life-saving firefighters tirelessly working on the front line to keep us safe.”
The presentation was attended by a number of dignitaries, including Member for Bruce, Julian Hill; Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams; Member for Scullin, Andrew Giles; Mayor of Greater Dandenong, Jim Memeti; and Greater Dandenong councillor Angela Long.
