Japanese community held fundraisers for bushfire relief on Australia Day

"I think that this is a natural thing to do. We support Australia when they need it, just like Australia supported us before". Broadcast on the 28th of January, 2020.

(From left) Willoughby Council's Councillor Brendon Zhu, Willoughby Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney, Mariko Hyland and Chiyoko Takeuchi Source: SBS

The Japanese community held a sausage sizzle for bushfire relief at Balgowrah Woolworths on Australia Day Source: SBS

The Japanese community in Sydney held two separate fundraising events for bushfire relief on Australia Day.

One of the events was a sausage sizzle at Balgowlah Woolworths.  Some of the volunteers are from the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 and have been organizing memorial events of the earthquake in Sydney to raise funds for the victims and express gratitude to Australians for their support during the crisis.

"Do you know that the first foreign leader who visited the affected area (by the earthquake in 2011) was Ms. Gillerd.  I think that this is natural for us to do this fundraising.  It's our turn to lend our support", a volunteer said.

The Japanese community held a sausase sizzile for bushfire relief on Australia Day Source: SBS

The other event was a raffle.  Performers from the community donated their time and resources to create the stage at the Chatswood Mall and encourage the audience to purchase raffle tickets.  Japanese businesses and individuals donated 60 prizes for the raffle.

A woman purchasing raffle tickets at the fundrasing event organised by the Japanese community on Australia Day for bushfire-affected animals Source: SBS

In the audio, four volunteers tell us why they wanted to participate in these events and three organisers explain how the idea of holding fundraising events for bushfire relief came about and how important it is for the Japanese community to participate in.