OFFICIAL NOTICE

POSTED OCTOBER 10, 2001 IN THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY OF GERRIGONG

ANNOUNCING THE FORMATION OF "GERRINGONG CARES"

GERRINGONG community has forged a personal link with victims of the New York World Trade Centre disaster to help them in the best way they can. Gerringong Cares, a group representing local community, sporting and service and church groups, has been formed to organise a giant fundraiser next Sunday. The money will be donated to the families of New York emergency services personnel who are missing, presumed dead.

"These families have lost loved ones and we wish to send a message of support to them," Lee Norrie, publicity officer of the Gerringong Surf Club, said. Everyone in the municipality is invited to the Community Activity Day which will centre around the surf club, bowling club, netball and tennis courts from 10am on Sunday.

Registration for a fun run starts at 9.30am at the surf club. All ages are welcome. Other activities include a cake stall, touch football knockout, face painting and fairy wand making for kids, a "pass the ball" competition, morning teas, steak and sausage sandwiches, volleyball competition, family tennis fishing competition and auction and a car boot sale.

The personal link has been formed with the families of Engine Company 226 - a Brooklyn fire unit that lost four fighters at The World Trade Centre on September 11. Gerringong resident for the last 16 years, 'Ginger' O'Brien, was born in New York and is close friends with New Yorker, Christine Mason, whose brother, Michael, is a fireman with Engine 226.

An email from Christine tells how the lost fire fighters have left behind wives, children, co-workers and other friends and family "devastated by these losses". "I spent a couple of hours at the firehouse Sunday night and left being completely inspired by the total dedication the members of 226 have to finding their lost brothers and being there for the families in every way they can, for the rest of their lives," Christine emailed.

"In addition to any fundraising your town can do, it is vitally important to receive communication from people in the form of letters, pictures, etc to let them know their lost heroes will never be forgotten."

In the tight knit Gerringong community, 'Ginger' O'Brien's link with the tragedy in New York was soon communicated to her friends and Kim Burman called members of the sporting and community groups to see what Gerringong could do. In just two meetings over a few days, the idea of a community day of support was up and running and has grown even bigger since.

Groups as diverse as the Werri Board Riders, Gerringong Playgroup, the churches, Lions, Rotary and Apex Clubs, the Rural Fire Brigade and the schools have promised or already given their support.

Kiama High School students in the week before the end of term raised $1000 which will go into the Gerringong fund.

Gerringong Primary School is planning a mufti day when school returns. John Daly, deputy chairman of the Gerringong Bowling Club, told the Kiama Independent that support was growing all the time.

"We all feel that our lives have been changed by what happened in America but until now we could not physically do anything.

"This enables the people of Gerringong to something for the victims of the tragedy.

"And rather than a large fund, we can personally support the firemen and their families of Engine Company 226," John said. Cliff Roberts of the Gerringong Rugby League Football Club said it was important for the New York firemen to know they had support from the other side of the world.

"It's a personal thing for them to know they have direct contacts with this town which is giving the support," he said.

Among the items to be sold at auction on the day will be signed Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels league football jumpers and a cricket bat signed by both Steve and Mark Waugh.

For a host of family fun activities, Gerringong Surf Club and its environs looks like the place to be on Sunday.

"GOOD DAY GERRIGONG"

From Engine Co. 226 In Brooklyn, New York.

Gerrigong Cares is the first global community event happening to specifically benefit The Engine Company 226 Family Fund.

The outpouring of kindness we have received over the past few weeks has been inspiring and knowing that there are people living thousands of miles away who are doing what they can to offer support, gives us encouragement to keep moving ahead.

We lost four men who were on duty for the 226 on September 11th. They could be called a lot of things: husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend, hero. What is most important is that they are remembered and honored for who they where as individuals and that their memory lives on.

Over the next few weeks and months we will be sharing our favorite stories of Brian, Stan, Dave and Lt. Bob, so check back frequently and forward this website to your family and friends. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing the mementos of Gerrigong Cares with our families and our community of Boerum Hill.

Please accept our heartfelt thanks and know that what you are doing means a lot. You will always have friends in Brooklyn.

GERRIGONG CARES

SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER

Dear Christine,

Here are some early photos from the day. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day and there was lots of support from Gerringong and surrounding towns.

Alan Pincus, an American from Brooklyn living in the next town, arranged for the U.S. flag to be flown from the flagpole in front of the Surf Club (a first) and for the U.S. Deputy Consul from Sydney, Steve Kaufmann to come down and say a few words of thanks. Alan is a paramedic whose son is a U.S. Marine. His son rang on the day of the attack to say he was being deployed to places unknown.

I've never been involved with a fundraiser where people have actually asked if they could donate before. There was a farmer who brought down rhubarb to sell for $2 a bunch, children who donated their pocket money, a woman, Patricia Stewart, who donated a hand made quilt - not to mention well over a hundred cakes and pies that were made for the cake stall. Kim Burman, the friend whose idea it was to have the day, was inundated with the offers to help. A full list of the clubs and businesses who donated their time, goods and services will be sent soon.

I worked selling remembrance ribbons which mom and I had made (we were sold out) and dad sold raffle tickets with the Rotary Club. I also spoke to children as they made pictures for the firehouse. One boy asked me how to spell "divided". When I looked at his drawing it read, "Unite we stand Divided we fall". He came up with that himself -there were no other adults nearby.

I handed out copies of the letter that was posted on the website and people were happy that their efforts meant something. I also told them the names of firefigters Stan, Dave, Brian and Lt. Bob. Your heros are now our heros too. We are eager to hear more about them and the other heros at FDNY 226. We are thankful for the opportunity to feel in some way connected to them. More photos will follow soon.

Take care,

Ginger

See pictures from Gerrigong Cares Day on our Virtual Tour!