CAN YOU HELP OUR FRIENDS DON AND DONNA REID?

We Hills residents were on high alert on the weekend of 23/24 January. The CFS advised residents of Cherry Gardens, Scott Creek, Bradbury, and Mylor to enact their fire plans and we heard that our friends in Rotary, Don and Donna Reid were in danger. We were much relieved when we heard that they had evacuated to their daughter’s home.

Don and Donna Reid met because of Rotary. Don, a young WA geologist, was the recipient of a Rotary Scholarship way back in the 1950's which took him to Denver Colorado where Donna Brink, a new graduate and artist from Nebraska was employed.

Don and Donna have lived an intrepid life in remote parts of this country. In 1958 they started their married life in a mining camp living in a tent in the Kimberley, Don as a young exploration geologist, and finally they put down roots on Mt Bold Road, Bradbury, in a home of their own, far from their respective places of birth – Don’s in Perth, WA and Donna’s in Kearney, Nebraska USA.

Don is a conservationist and geologist, a shining light in the Scott Creek Conservation Park where he and the other volunteers work enthusiastically to preserve & restore the bush and protect the birds. Donna’s art work and delight in the bush garden reveals her passion for nature.

A visit to Don and Donna Reid’s small 20's bungalow home was an absolute treat and a lesson in living simply, close to and with nature. All of this went up in smoke on Sunday 24 January. Don and Donna, now in their 80's have lost their home and their creative centre of so many years, which not only told their story but was in every way where they belonged.

We, their friends and fellow Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Stirling have responded to help these much-loved friends to clean up the property and save some precious memories and provide a range of other assistance.

But now what Don and Donna need most is financial assistance to help them re-establish themselves.

You can help us in Rotary to help them by making a donation.