Mayor Wayne Kratzmann accepts Taabinga State School’s donation delivered by Lindsay Kath

February 12, 2013

The South Burnett Regional Council is already receiving donations for the Mayor’s Red Earth South Burnett Flood Appeal.

“We received lots of feedback from residents saying they wanted to support one of the many flood appeals but really wanted to ensure the money helped people within the South Burnett,” Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said today.

“Residents and the Council wanted a South Burnett Flood Appeal, where the funds would stay in the South Burnett region.”

The theme of the Mayor’s Red Earth South Burnett Flood Appeal is “Donate Local, Support Local, Shop Local, Sustain Local”.

“The funds will not only support locals who were affected by the Australia Day weekend floods but it will also help businesses in our region,” Mayor Kratzmann said.

“The funds will be distributed to eligible residents in the form of ‘South Burnett Dollars’. These dollars will be able to be used at South Burnett businesses therefore helping our local economy.”

The Mayor’s Red Earth South Burnett Flood Appeal is a joint initiative of the South Burnett Regional Council and the Red Earth Community Foundation.

“The foundation is very pleased to be a part of this appeal,” Red Earth Community Foundation founding member and spokesperson Georgie Somerset said.

“The Red Earth Community Foundation was established to encourage generosity in our region, whether that be by donating your time, talents or treasures.

“We have seen people donating a lot of their talents and time, helping with the clean-up after the floods. We are now asking people to donate some of their treasure by donating to this appeal.”

Cr Kratzmann said he was very thankful to the Red Earth Community Foundation and to BIEDO (the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation) for helping us get the appeal up and running.

“Stay tuned to hear about lots of fundraising events we have planned for the next few weeks,” he said.

Donations to the Mayor’s Red Earth South Burnett Flood Appeal can be made at any South Burnett Regional Council Customer Service Centres.

Other collection points are also being organised.

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Taabinga State School was the first school to donate to the Mayor’s Red Earth South Burnett Flood Appeal.

“It was great to receive our first donation from the students of Taabinga School,” Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said.

“We would encourage all schools and businesses to hold a Friday Free-dress Flood Funding event to help raise funds for our flood affected residents.”

Lindsay Kath, Janitor and Groundsman from Taabinga State School, delivered $500 collected from students to the South Burnett Regional Council.

“The students really wanted to do something to assist the people affected by the Australia Day weekend floods,” Mr Kath said.

“The school saw that the Mayor had started the Red Earth flood appeal and we thought is was ideal to donate the money raised to this cause.

“Staff and students of Taabinga State School will be impressed to know that all of their donations will be given to people within the South Burnett region.”

Cr Kratzmann said the South Burnett Regional Council would be following Taabinga School’s lead by holding its own Friday Free-dress Flood Funding event on February 22.

“All Council employees will be encouraged to come to work in free-dress and make a donation to the flood appeal,” he said.

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Cr Cheryl Dalton has put out a call for donations of goods or services or goods that could be auctioned on air on Sunday,  March 3, on CROW-FM to raise money for the SB Mayor’s Red Earth Flood Appeal.

For more information, email her