POWER tools, household goods, generators and refrigerators will be delivered to Kangaroo Island following an outpour of donations from the Limestone Coast community.
For the past eight weeks, Mount Gambier woman Candina Williams has led a donation drive for the fire-affected community, culminating in two 20 foot containers filled with essential items.
Ms Williams is a former resident of the iconic island and said her son was a current member of the Kangaroo Island Country Fire Service and was involved in the firefighting effort.
She described the wait for messages from her son, who was among thousands battling the devastating blazes, as unimaginable.
“I had been anxiously awaiting to see whether or not he was okay and decided to turn that anxiousness into something productive,” Ms Williams said.
Ms Williams praised the Limestone Coast community for its generous contributions, which will allow Kangaroo Island residents to quickly rebuild.
A number of empty containers have also been donated, allowing those affected by the fires to easily transport items.
“Those in the South East have been very charitable and it is an amazing gift for all involved,” she said.
Williams Crane Hire also donated to the cause, donating two shipping containers for the products to be transported in.
Josh Williams was approached about the idea and was eager to contribute, saying it was a “no-brainer” way to show the true blue spirit.
“We spoke about getting some stuff together to send over to Kangaroo Island and I thought of the idea to get them a couple of shipping containers so it could be easily stacked and transported,” Mr Williams said.
“The containers are very full with different donations which really shows the Limestone Coast community response
to the bushfires across the Island.”
Mr Williams was surprised at some of the items donated before realising those affected would have nothing.
“When I was stacking it I was asking myself why those on Kangaroo Island would need dog food tins, fishing rods or even children’s bikes,” he said.
“But of course when you have nothing anything is good.”
The donations will be transported by South West Freight free of charge with the items leaving on Wednesday and expected to arrive on the island today.
