MEDIA RELEASE
20th March 2009

Elders’ ‘Bushfire Sales’ Raise Over $70,000 For Victorian Black Saturday Victims

Leading New Zealand agribusiness Elders has raised over $NZ70,000 in a series of ‘Bushfire Sales’ over the last month.

“Extraordinary generosity from New Zealand farmers and Elders’ clients has helped us exceed our expectations and raise a significant amount of money for victims of the Victorian bushfires,’ said Stuart Chapman, Elders New Zealand Managing Director.

“Farmers from all over New Zealand have donated stock and opened their wallets at the Elders ‘Bushfire Sales’, which were conducted free of charge by the Elders team,”

“The ‘Bushfire Sales’ started as an idea from an Elders stock agent in the Wairarapa who wanted to help his Aussie counterparts on the land – it was quickly and successfully adopted by Elders agents all over New Zealand with sales occurring at Wairoa, Temuka, Lorneville, Masterton, Dannevirke, Feilding, Waipukurau, Levin, Hastings and Oxford,”

“Each of the sales contained special stories of people going the extra mile in the name of charity and a special tribute should be paid to the people of the Wairarapa who raised over $32,000 – a phenomenal effort!” said Chapman.

The money raised will be donated directly to the Elders Australia Bushfire Appeal, which will send funds directly to the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Community Enterprise Foundation to distribute the money to those in need.

Monetary donations can also be made at any branch of the ANZ-National bank to the Elders Bushfire Appeal Trust Account is 01 1839 0075213 00. This account will remain open indefinitely to provide an opportunity for ongoing donations.

‘Elders is entrenched in and committed to supporting rural communities on both sides of the Tasman – next week an Elders New Zealand team will participate in the 2009 Variety Bash, a convoy of quirky vehicles that travels to rural and regional parts of New Zealand to raise fun and funds for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children,” said Chapman, who also sits on the Board of Directors at Variety – The Children’s Charity.

ENDS

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