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RSL Club donates $10,000 to appeal

As Victoria comes to grips with the enormity of the bushfire calamity that has destroyed so many communities and claimed over 200 lives, Wagga RSL Club along with the entire NSW club industry has opened their hearts and given generously to the thousands of survivors.

The moment the Club heard the terrible news, General Manager Andrew Bell (pictured) picked up the phone and with Board support pledged $10,000 on behalf of the Wagga RSL Club.

Above and beyond this great donation the staff of the RSL Club, Riverina Catering Services and members also dug deep and gave generously.

Many of the staff made personal donations directly deducted out of their pay packets, the Wednesday night Barefoot Bowls group donated all winnings to the appeal, the social club held a charity bowls day and raffle raising well over $1,000 and tins have been placed around the Club and continue to raise money for this worthy cause.

The donation made directly by the Club is part of an appeal being coordinated by ClubsNSW on behalf of the NSW Club Industry. So far this appeal has raised more than $1.2 million for the bushfire victims.

Andrew Bell said ClubsNSW would be donating the money to the Red Cross, which is supporting the Victorian Government’s response to the emergency.

“This is a donation not just on behalf of Wagga RSL Club but on behalf of the entire community of Wagga Wagga,” Mr Bell said.

“I think we have all felt not just shock, but complete frustration at the limit of what we can do for these people who have lost not only their homes, but in many cases, family members and friends.

“I’m very proud of the way the club industry has responded to what is one of the worst natural disasters to ever strike Australia.

“It’s clearly going to take years for the scars to heal, but hopefully the victims will take some comfort from the knowledge that all of Australia is thinking of them at this time of great tragedy.”