Relief fund supported
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INNISFAIL, Australia — When Tropical Cyclone Larry hit Australia's North Queensland town of Innisfail, it ripped roofs off buildings and damaged 55 percent of homes. It also triggered an emergency response by the Church that remains one of the largest to date for the disaster from a non--profit organization. The Church donated cash in addition to the on-the-ground manpower assistance provided by members in Cairns and Innisfail under the "Helping Hands" community service umbrella.
Church officials personally presented a $200,000 (Australia) donation to the Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie, for the Cyclone Larry Relief Fund. The donation, handed over at the Government Executive Building, was made by Elder Paul Sybrowsky of the Seventy and the Australia Area presidency, and Queensland-based Elder Dirk Smibert, Area Seventy.
Premier Beattie welcomed the donation and commented, "This will go towards rebuilding lives and communities in the cyclone devastated parts of our state. Over the past five weeks I have been heartened by the generosity of so many people across Queensland and around Australia. Today is no different and I thank Church members for caring for their fellow Australians."
The donation has been listed on the Queensland Government's Web site as being the ninth largest donation overall and the largest donation from a non-profit organization. The eight larger donations have come mostly from federal and state governments and large banking organizations.
"The money for our humanitarian efforts comes from a number of sources, including Church-owned farms and contributions from Church members," said Elder Sybrowsky.
"One of the ways we raise funds to help both our members and those not of our faith is through monthly fasts. We go without food and drink for two meals and donate the money we otherwise would have spent to the Church's fast offering fund."
Premier Beattie publicly commented in a ministerial media statement, "I'm told the (Church-owned) Griffith enterprise includes wheat, corn and cattle and that all its profits go towards supporting the Church's humanitarian work. This is one of the first times money from the farm has come to Queensland and I thank the Church for their generosity. I also want to thank Church members in Cairns who formed the volunteer force 'Helping Hands' and travelled to Innisfail to give 500 hours of community service after the cyclone."
