Dear Lisa

On January 18 a firestorm rolled out of the bush-covered hills surrounding Canberra, the national capital of Australia, and within about three hours it had destroyed hundreds of homes in our city's southwest as well as thousands of hectares of parkland, including Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Mt Stromlo Observatory.  Lives were lost, and many were injured and traumatised, especially the children.  More information and photos are available on the website, and a Google search will bring up newspaper articles.  Our local newspaper is the Canberra Times.

 

I started the appeal through LM_NET and other international lists I belong to because I did not like the idea of little ones sleeping in a bed that was not their own without even a teddy to cuddle.  The response has been magnificent as the word has spread, and every day I am unpacking more boxes that arrive from all over the world.  Each teddy has a tag popped on him saying "Hello, I am your new friend from ...." and has his photo taken for the website.

 

They are then delivered to the schools and pre-schools in the affected areas (including those schools where the dislocated families have gone) and any child who needs a teddy may have one.  It is not restricted to just those who have lost their homes.  Yesterday I heard of a toddler who keeps 'playing' about everything burning down and is distraught each time a helicopter passes overhead.

 

So that's it, in a nutshell.  It's just one of a whole lot of community things that the Canberra folk are doing to help the neighbourhood get back on its feet.  It is a huge burden with only 330,000 people in this city.

 

Hope this helps with what you want - thank you for the photo - I shall include it on the website.

Barbara

 

Barbara Braxton
Teacher-Librarian
Palmerston District Primary School
PALMERSTON ACT 2913
AUSTRALIA

T. 61 2 6205 6162
F. 61 2 6205 7242
W. http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au
E. barbara@austarmetro.com.au