The fires may not have reached the Illawarra but that hasn't stopped BlueScope making a huge donation to help those in need.
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The Port Kembla steelmaker on Monday announced it would donate $1 million to the Red Cross bushfire relief appeal. It is also giving employees the option of donating to the Red Cross.
In a short statement a BlueScope spokesman said the company would do "whatever we can to help relief and recovery work".
"Already BlueScope people have worked with emergency services to assist the naval vessels carrying evacuees from Mallacoota to dock at BlueScope's berth at Western Port," the spokesman said.
Aid agencies, local charities and even the RFS have thanked the community for the overwhelming generosity as fires devastate communities across the country. But, as the weeks wear on, the message is that cash, rather than food, clothes or supplies, is the best donation.
In the hard hit Shoalhaven, the council has started a mayoral relief fund to help support victims, saying that the donations of physical things has now become a logistical issue for front line workers and is "removing resources from the key areas of need".
"The best donation you can give is a monetary one," the council said at the weekend.
"The community support of donated items has been overwhelming and extremely generous to date. Charity and volunteer organisations have now reached capacity for item donation.
"Please be assured, that through the work of community members, agencies, RFS and Council, drops of food are already occurring at Conjola, Manyana and Fisherman's Paradise. A large donation has been provided to Conjola today. Residents have also now been able to get into and out of Conjola via road."
"We really appreciate the generosity but experience with emergencies shows that donations of money, where possible, help affected communities recover sooner. This is because people can make their own choices - including purchasing the goods they need for their own families."