At the time of publication, the 2019 - 2020 bushfires had burned approximately 10 million hectares of land and blazes were still burning in every Australian state and territory.
The fires have caused at least 25 deaths, extensive damage to homes and businesses, and the large-scale destruction of native wildlife populations.
Australia has seen an outpouring of support from businesses, including many in the jewellery industry that have pledged donations to organisations such as the Australian Red Cross, NSW Rural Fire Service, Victoria’s Country Fire Authority, NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES), and the Salvation Army.
Locally, Hardy Brothers Jewellery, Sarah & Sebastian, Babyanything, ManiaMania, Holly Ryan Jewellery, YCL Jewels, and Natalie Marie Jewellery are among the businesses that have publicly declared their donations. By Nye Jewels, Haus of Dizzy, Petite Grand, Francesca, Margot Mai, Linda Tahija Jewellery and Amber Sceats have also pledged their support.
Duraflex Group Australia has announced that, until the end of February, it will donate 100 per cent of the proceeds from sales of the limited-edition Thomas Sabo Koala Charm and Koala Necklace to WIRES.
Additionally, the international jewellery industry has made contributions to help those affected by the fires. US-based Leismo Jewelry, Genevieve Lau Jewelry, Pamela Love, Aurate, and Tucker James Designs have contributed to relief efforts, while in the UK, jewellery designers Alex Monroe and Pippa Small have released pendant necklaces featuring Australian animals, with sale proceeds going to relief efforts.
Emma Burgin-Fox, chief operating officer Alex Monroe, told Jeweller, “Starting the new year in London with such devastating environmental news from Australia made us feel so far away, and helpless. We quickly decided to donate a portion of sales from an existing piece in our collection – our Cockatoo Necklace – to try and help in some way, and let our friends, customers and followers in Australia know that we were thinking of them.”
Meanwhile, international jewellery company Tiffany & Co. – which is headquartered in New York City and has 13 stores in Australia – placed advertising in newspapers The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald last week, in order to publish an open letter to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Headlined, ‘We stand with Australia,’ the missive asked the nation’s leader to take “bold and decisive action” on climate change and included a website link to Tiffany & Co.’s own sustainability initiatives.
A Tiffany & Co. spokesperson told Jeweller, “We have made a company donation to support the firefighting, wildlife, aid and rehabilitation efforts, and are matching all employee donations to the cause dollar for dollar.”
Special efforts to help retailers
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has announced a series of initiatives to redistribute stock to retailers in bushfire-affected areas, in conjunction with charity Good360.
Russell Zimmerman, executive director ARA, said: “The ARA and Good360 are partnering on a campaign to collect goods from retailers who haven’t been touched by bushfires to redistribute them to those who in some cases have lost everything.
“Any retailer, small or large, who wishes to contribute – regardless of where they are in Australia – should make contact with Good360 to arrange collection of goods and stock they wish to donate. Retailers, and other Australians, who prefer to make a cash donation should also get in contact,” he added.
The ARA is also offering its services – including advice on employment obligations, retail leasing and property law, and insurance – to all retailers affected by bushfires, regardless of whether they are ARA members. A central reference page has been made live on the ARA's Bushfire Relief Resources page.
Retailers and jewellery brands that have contributed to the Australian bushfire relief effort are invited to contact Jeweller, editorial@jewellermagazine.com.
JEWELLERY for a good cause
How can you help?
You can donate to the following list of disaster appeals as listed by the ARA on its Bushfire Relief Resources page - visit page for full list:
 | GOOD360 Bushfire Disaster Relief
Good360 is a matchmaker connecting the brand-new goods of businesses with the Australians who need them most. Good360 helps connect the right goods to the right people at the right time during all stages of a disaster, providing hope and dignity to those impacted. |
| Salvation Army Disaster Appeal
Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams are responding to devastating bushfires around Australia as an unprecedented number of emergency-level fires cause tragic loss of life and property. Teams have been activated at multiple locations, with a number on standby in case they are required at other evacuation centres. |
| St Vincent De Paul Society Bushfire Appeal
Vinnies is on the ground helping people as they deal with the immediate aftermath of fires, and we will continue to be there as they rebuild their lives in the long term. Please donate urgently so Vinnies can be there for everyone needing our help. |
| Australian Red Cross Disaster Recovery Relief
Your donation helps Red Cross give people the support they need in disasters, whenever and wherever they happen. We have decades of experience in caring for people affected by natural disasters implementing recovery programs and emergency assistance in communities affected by bushfires. |
| NSW Rural Fire Service
Rural Fire Brigades are often more than just an emergency service. They can also be a vital community service, provide a community meeting point or offer assistance with non-emergency roles. |
| Country Fire Authority
A Bushfire Disaster Appeal has been established to support affected community members in East Gippsland and Hume. The appeal provides a formal channel for the public to donate money directly to affected communities. |
| Wildlife Emergency Fund
During the catastrophic fires, lives have been lost, hundreds of homes have been lost, over 4.9 million hectares of land has been destroyed and dozens of fires are still burning. Your support will help ensure future generations will get to see wildlife in the wild. |
| Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund 2020
Your donation will help fund emergency veterinary assistance and scientific intervention. All donations either great or small will help with the response to this crisis. |