Businesses challenged: first big donation to Collingwood project
The Golden Bay business community has been quick to respond to the Collingwood Volunteer Fire Brigade’s civil defence fundraising project (GBW 2/10).
Harcourts Golden Bay has pledged $500 to kick off the community-based fundraising and Harcourts agent Nikki Ryan is challenging other business to get behind the appeal as well.
The brigade is aiming to raise $20,000 to set up an alternative civil defence base at the Collingwood Area School and buy some crucial communications equipment so that, in the event of a major civil defence emergency, Collingwood and its hinterland can be kept in touch with civil defence posts in Takaka and beyond.
“That’s a brilliant start to the campaign,” said Collingwood’s chief fire officer Graeme Miller about the first major contribution. “We’re really grateful to Harcourts and we hope a few more businesses decide to get involved as well.”
Graeme said that recent worldwide disasters showed just how vulnerable life can be in the face of natural forces.
“We’re talking about things that we hope will never happen here,” he said. “But if a major regionwide disaster did happen, this side of the Hill would be the last place the rest of the world worried about. We’ve got lots of very isolated spots here and they all might need help. Having a command post on the top of the hill in Collingwood could be crucial. The way civil defence is set up these days means that individuals, families and communities are expected to be able to take care of themselves until help arrives. The generator and communications equipment we’ll buy with the money we raise will make this community a whole lot more secure when disaster strikes.”
The Collingwood Volunteer Fire Brigade Trust has devoted $10,000 to the fund and the brigades hope that people who attend their annual fireworks display at Labour Weekend are especially generous. Money raised at that event will also go to the civil defence project.
