Motorsport fans and Perth Motorplex generously contribute to bushfire appeal

January 8, 2020

A crowd of approximately 8,000 attending the Summer Slam and Funny Car Match Race at Perth Motorplex on Saturday 4th January 2020 have generously contributed to a bushfire appeal in support of those affected by the recent catastrophic bushfires across the country.

Perth Motorplex welcomed two fire trucks and volunteer firefighters from the Mandogolup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade to raise funds for the families of volunteer New South Wales firefighters Samuel McPaul, Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, who were tragically killed while on duty in December 2019.

The appeal touched the hearts of event patrons and the Mandogolup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade managed to raise $10,176.45. The money will be divided equally and deposited into the NSW Rural Fire Service accounts set up for the families of the firefighters who have lost their lives.

VenuesWest will also donate $8,000, representing $1 from every ticket sold by Perth Motorplex, to Bushfire Volunteers, the peak body for Western Australia’s 20,000+ registered members of the State’s more than 550 Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades.

The registered charity provides and manages hardship payments directly to the families of volunteers who suffer injury and other loss at the hands of fire and works to ensure the women and men of Western Australia’s largest emergency service are properly resourced, supported and represented.

David Etherton, VenuesWest Chief Executive advised “Perth Motorplex and VenuesWest are very grateful for the generosity of our patrons and the motorsport community which has enabled us to support Bushfire Volunteers and their important work with Western Australian volunteers.

“We would like to express our sincerest thanks to everyone that got involved in the appeal and to the emergency services men and women who are working day and night to protect lives and homes in our State and around the country.”

A further $1,935.60 was raised for Bushfire Volunteers by members of the WA Drag Racing Association and Perth Motorplex promotional staff shaking tins at the venue.

Darren Brown, Executive Officer, Bushfire Volunteers noted “we are incredibly grateful for this donation from VenuesWest, Perth Motorplex and importantly, the event attendees.

“As the peak body for Western Australia’s 20,000+ registered Bush Fire Brigade volunteers, the association will use this very welcome funding boost to contribute toward the work we do to represent, support and promote our members and the invaluable work they donate to keep our community safe.

“The Bushfire Volunteers association is working hard to increase the breadth and number of services we provide to our volunteers and state government and this donation will assist in delivering that important goal more quickly.”

Craig Treeby, Captain, Mandogalup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade added “our tin rattle on Saturday night at the Perth Motorplex for the families of fallen firefighters in New South Wales was a phenomenal success.

“On behalf of the Mandogalup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade we give many thanks to the generous patrons and the staff at Perth Motorplex.”

Saturday’s event, which featured 10 Top Doorslammers, seven Nitro Bikes and two local Nitro Funny Cars, was swiftly put together by the Perth Motorplex team after the Aeroflow Funny Car convoy was unable to get to Perth Motorplex for the event due to bushfire road closures.

For more information or if you would like to donate to the causes referred to above, please visit: https://www.bushfire.org.au/

https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/general-news/featured/support-for-firefighter-families

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