Nixon speaks, funds peak- President SI Berwick, Noela Gregson, Region President SI Victoria Therese Lyford, Christine Nixon and immediate past president Victoria and conveyor of Soroptimist Internatio

By Jade Lawton
ABOUT $7000 was raised for Gippsland’s bushfire-affected communities at a fund-raising dinner held at Berwick’s Clover Cottage last week.
Christine Nixon, former Victoria Police Commissioner and former chairwoman of the Bushfire Recovery Committee, was guest speaker at the function organised by Soroptimist International Victoria in conjuction with Soroptimist International of Berwick and members of the Soroptimist International Bushfire Appeal Committee.
The Soroptimist International Bushfire Appeal Committee has thrown its support behind women and their communities affected by fires in Gippsland, which received less media coverage in the wake of the catastrophic fires in Marysville and Kinglake.
The group has bought uniforms for the Boolarra Netball Club and formed clubs like “nibble and natter” so women can support each other.
Ms Nixon was introduced by Immediate Past President of Soroptimist International Victoria, Margo Kelly.
“Christine is a wonderful example of a woman who has succeeded in a male dominated world. You would make a great Soroptimist, Christine,” she said.
Ms Nixon said the devastating effects of the Black Saturday bushfires would be long-lasting.
“We lost 173 people in the fires and 40 young people lost one or both their parents,” Ms Nixon said.
“It’s long-term. It’s not going to be fixed by the next anniversary.”
Ms Nixon said the community outpouring had been great. She said the Indonesian Government had donated $1 million, much of which paid for new fences in the La Trobe Valley.
“Only six per cent of fences in Victoria were actually insured.
“That was a major issue … only 75 per cent of homes were insured, and of those that were, 80 per cent were underinsured. So please, think about your insurance,” she said.
“Some 20,000 people volunteered – 14,000 were involved in fencing, many who had never fenced before.
“Volunteers did an amazing job. One man rang up in the first week of the fires and said ‘I’m an electrician, I have 20 staff and I want to help out but you guys (Victoria Police) won’t let me through.’ So we let them up and they did a wonderful job.”
Donations also flowed through from the community.
“We got millions of toothbrushes, and Tupperware became the most sought after product,” she said.
“There is still a long way to go, but you should be proud of your state and your country. I didn’t do any more than (the) thousands of volunteers did.
“Hopefully we never go through that again and learn a lot of lessons from it.”
In responding to a question on communication procedures, Ms Nixon said mobile phone messages were one part of the solution.
“People have to make real decisions. Having watched what happened to people, I wouldn’t stay. It’s just not worth it.”
Gabrielle Francis, a Boolarra resident, thanked Ms Nixon for her support.
“Thank you so much for everything you have done – I am proud to be Australian, I am proud to be a human being, I am proud to be a woman.”