Shelterboxes
Facilitates a humanitarian aid program bringing relief and aid in the form of material and equipment that provides shelter, warmth and comfort to people displaced by natural and other disasters. Each box provides shelter and warmth for up to ten people for a prolonged period.
The Shelterbox Australia Newsletter provides information about current areas of support
For up to date information visit Shelterbox Australia's Website http://www.shelterboxaustralia.com.au/
Check the most recent Shelterbox Australia Newsletter updates
Honour Roll showing boxes donated [In reverse District order] http://www.shelterboxaustralia.com.au
Shelterbox Australia Update 28 January 2010
The latest Skelterbox Australia Newsletter shows some graphic photos of ShelterBox at work in Haiti.
The fact that tents are being set up as Field Hospitals shows just how versatile the ShelterBox project can be.
Within our District the response to provide more ShelterBoxes is excellent with Clubs sponsoring boxes as is the General public. ( Leigh Iles)
HAITI OPERATION CENTRES UP AND RUNNING
First Responder Mark Pearson on Haiti Relief Effort
U Tube video
Haiti Earthquake Relief ShelterBox has established three separateoperational centers in and around Haiti to help distribute assistance to the estimated one million people left h
omeless by the devastating 12 January earthquake.
The Haiti operation is being supported by logistical hubs set up in Miami and the Dominican Republic capital Santa Domingo. ShelterBoxes have been flown to both cities for onward transportation to Haiti.
More than 3,300 ShelterBoxes have been committed so far, enough to help up to 33,000 people.
Pictured is an injured girl in Bernard Mews Hospital, Port au Prince where shelterbox tents are used to treat the large number of injured people.
Shelterbox Update January 15th 2010
A ShelterBox Response Team is currently being mobilised with two members from the USA and one from the UK leading the response.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean island of Haiti at close to 2200 GMT on Tuesday, January 12. Initial reports state that hundreds of people are feared dead while thousands of people have been left homeless.
ShelterBox UK General Manager Lasse Petersen said: ‘We’re doing everything we can to ensure immediate aid.
Shelterbox Australia 15 January update gives more information.
Shelterbox on the ground in Haiti - January 14 2010
An on-line report from the newspaper, Dominican Today , Jan 14.
Santo Domingo.– A response team from ShelterBox, an international disaster relief charity based in the UK and USA sponspored by Rotary clubs worldwide, will arrive in Las Americas Iternational Airport today to drive to Haiti to deliver disaster relief.
There are 1,000 boxes on the way to Port-au-Prince that will immediately house 10,000 earthquake victims. Each box contains a disaster relief tent that houses 10 people, a stove, blankets and other essential items. On Friday 15 January, the Response Team will meet the first 200 boxes at the Port-au-Prince airport.
Rotary Club disaster relief coordinator for Haiti, Dr. Claude Suréna, president of the Haitian Medical Association, will lead the efforts of Haiti's 16 Rotary clubs with ShelterBox to ensure that this relief will be deployed effectively to the thousands homeless in need. Dr. Suréna is currently sheltering more than 100 victims in his partially-damaged home in Port-au-Prince. ShelterBox has extensive experience delivering humantarian aid to major disasters including Haiti's 2008 hurricane, Katrina and the Tsunami. The Dominican Republic and Haiti are home to 82 Rotary clubs with nearly 2,000 members.
Shelterbox Update 10 December 2009
As we reflect on the year which is nearly passed, ShelterBox Australia acknowledges and sincerely thanks all Clubs within our District who have supported ShelterBox through promotions and of course sponsorship.
Since inception of ShelterBox into District 9830 in the 2005/6 Rotary year we have to date sponsored 516 boxes totalling $619,000. A remarkable effort when you consider we have contributed just under 13% of the National total of boxes sponsored.
We also recognise that this achievement could not have been possible without the wonderful support of individual Rotarians (and families), other Service Clubs, Inner Wheel ,Schools, Sporting Clubs, Church Groups, Businesses etc , and the General Public. You are the backbone of all our efforts to assist those who have lost everything.
Thank you and we wish you and your families a safe and happy Christmas. Leigh Iles and George Lockwood ShelterBox Australia Representatives for District 9830
News Update 9 December, download pdf file
Shelterbox Update 13 October 2009
Leigh Iles, reports
This News Update is quite extensive(450 kB pdf download) simply because there is so much happening around the world at this time, especially to our Northern Neighbours.
On behalf of ShelterBox can I thank the Clubs within our District that have supported our call for the sponsorship of more ShelterBoxes. The demand is now greater than ever. Without YOUR KIND SUPPORT we would not be able to assist those survivors who have lost everything.
We have also received support from Individuals,Companies, other Charities and Church Groups for which we are eternally greatful.
Finally an extract from ADG District 9920 (RC of Apia Samoa) Rotarian Tuifaasisina Maraea Slade.
"I am humbly proud to be a Rotarian and whilst we may not be as loud as Red Cross we are certainly doing a great job going straight to the needy and touching the hearts of the people. To see the tears in their eyes as they hug you and the greatful smiles as they say "THANK YOU" convinces you ROTARY HAS MADE THE DIFFERENCE in their lives.
"TO THE WORLD YOU ARE JUST ONE>>>>>>to them YOU are the world"
Leigh Iles,
Rotary Club of Youngtown
ShelterBox District 9830 Representative.
0422 414 193
Shelterbox Update 8 October 2009
An update is available on the relief ShelterBox Australia is undertaking in the effected areas of our Northern neighbours. Download update (pdf file)
To date the response from Clubs/Individuals and Businesses within our District has been outstanding. We continue to be a very caring and reflective Community when it comes to supporting people less fortunate than us.
As you will read in the News update it is believed that initial assessments by a ShelterBox team in Sumatra is that in excess of 900+ ShelterBoxes will be required in THAT REGION ALONE!!!
All ShelterBoxes that were stockpiled in Melbourne have now been exhausted and there is an urgent need for more sponsored boxes to replace same.
If your Club can help at this time of need it would be greatly appreciated.
The cost of sponsoring a ShelterBox remains at $1,200
Thank you once again for your ongoing support.
Leigh Iles,
ShelterBox Australia District 9830
Update 1 October 2009
Samoa and Sumatra
Read about the response to Samoa and Sumatra disasters.
Download pdf update here
Update 30 September 2009
Manila storms
Following a tropical storm in Manila our fellow Rotarians in that Country requested the urgent assistance of ShelterBox Australia.
Over 1.87 million people have been effected and over 200 people have perished from this torrential downpour.
A Shelterbox Response Team have been sent to Manila to assess the need. Read about this... pdf download
Update 23 September 2009
Typhoon Morakat and other disasters
Following on from a hectic month in Indonesia,China,Philippines,India and Taiwan where over $1M dollars worth of disaster relief aid was distributed to those survivors who lost their homes and all belongings due to the devastation caused by Typhoon Morakot and flooding,ShelterBox quickly responded to calls for assistance in Agedez,Niger,West Africa and Mexico where further disasters have occured.
News Update16 September 2009:
ShelterBox Founder wins Alternative Rich List
ShelterBox Founder and CEO Tom Henderson has won the forum3 Alternative Rich List. Forum3’s Alternative Rich List campaign recognises society’s true heroes; the people whose wealth is measured not in pounds and pennies but in the way they have enriched the lives of others through their actions.
On hearing he’d topped the Rich List, Tom remained as pragmatic as ever:
‘I always say life is about doing the most for the most. To win the Alternative Rich List is a tremendous honour but it’s an honour I share with the thousands of ShelterBox supporters and volunteers, not just in the UK, but around the globe.
‘ It’s because of these people, the people who work tirelessly day in and day out, that ShelterBox has been able to respond to more than 90 disasters in close to 60 countries across the globe, providing hundreds of thousands of people who have lost everything with shelter, with warmth and with dignity.’
Debbie Hockham, Director of forum3, added:
‘This year’s candidates came from a variety of backgrounds ranging from some of the most well-known and respected organisations in the world to grass-roots organisations making a difference to a local community.
‘It’s high time that these individuals are celebrated and recognised for the work they have done for others and the lives they have saved and improved. Forum3 is immensely proud to be campaigning for these true heroes of society.’
100 people were nominated for the award with a public vote to determine the winners. There were three winners in total, all of who are being presented with their awards today (Thursday, September 10) at the Business Design Centre in Islington.
The past five weeks have seen ShelterBox stretch to the very limit responding to Typhoon Morakot in the Philippines, Taiwan and China, the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia and the catastrophic flooding in West Africa.
Tom said:
‘In the past five weeks alone we’ve sent aid that will provide emergency shelter for close to 15,000 people in seven different countries. We’re stretched, we can’t do this by ourselves and we need people’s generosity to help replenish our depleted stocks of aid
– please help us if you can.’ http://www.shelterbox.org/news_article.asp?id=163
News Update August 13 2009
ShelterBox deploys to three disasters in 48 hours
ShelterBox, international disaster relief organisation and the largest global Rotary club project, is responding to Typhoon Morakot after tens of thousands of people have been left stranded in the storm’s wake.
During the past several days, the storm has passed over the Philippines, Taiwan and mainland China, leaving a trail of destruction. High winds, flooding and mudslides have left thousands in need of emergency shelter. In Taiwan, 50,000 people are stranded and flooding has submerged many homes. In China nearly 1 million people have been evacuated in the Fujian Province while 13,000 people have been displaced in the Zambales Province in the Philippines with authorities describing the situation as a calamity. Typhoon Morakot has brought with it a record amount of rainfall with close to 2.5 metres falling on Taiwan.
ShelterBox is providing emergency disaster relief on all three fronts. ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) members ‘Aussie’ Peter Pearce (Aust) and Ross Mackenzie (NZ) are already on the ground in the Philippines, SRT members David Ray (UK), Philip Duloy (UK) and Mike Greenslade (UK) will arrive in Taipei, Taiwan today and SRT member Tony Zhang (CH) is assessing the situation in China.
224 ShelterBoxes are in transit to the Philippines and 100 ShelterBoxes have been sent to Taiwan. Our SRT leaders will continue to assess the need and respond accordingly.
ShelterBox Founder Tom Henderson said: ‘This is a textbook ShelterBox operation. We’ve been watching this for a few days and monitoring the situation. We now have teams in place on all three fronts that will be providing emergency disaster relief as quickly as possible. With each ShelterBox containing a 10- person tent, blankets, water purification and cooking equipment, basic tools, a stove and other essential equipment, we not only provide people with emergency shelter provision but also the tools to start rebuilding their lives.’
Further updates and photographs of our disaster relief will be sent as they come to hand.
Youngtown Rotary Club is the co-ordinating club for the ShelterBox Programme in Tasmania on behalf of the Endeavour Hills Rotary Club in Victoria.
From July 2005 to June 2006 sponsorship from other Rotary Clubs and individuals via bequests within Tasmania resulted in 119 ShelterBoxes being avaiable for distribution to devastated areas around the World.
From July 2006 until June 2007 there were 72 ShelterBoxes sponsored from Tasmania. During this time over $1,000,000 was raised for sponsorship of ShelterBoxes.
District 9830 Top ShelterBox Sponsor District 9830 has done it again –
Iit’s been one of the top two districts for sponsoring ShelterBoxes since it started contributing to ShelterBoxes in 2005/06.
In the year 2008-2009 , District 9830 sponsored 116 boxes ($139,000). This demonstrates the generosity of Tasmanian Rotary Clubs and the Tasmanian community.
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