“This has been deeply personal for a lot of people, myself included,” Ms Cleeland said.
“I’ve seen first-hand what these fires have taken, and I know how much it matters that recovery support is handled with care, fairness and integrity.”
The fund has been created by the community, for the community, to support individuals, families and businesses impacted by the bushfires, providing immediate assistance and longer-term recovery support as rebuilding continues.
Ms Cleeland said the strength of the fund lay in its local focus and governance.
“This fund is grounded in the community and guided by people who understand the realities on the ground,” she said.
“It ensures support is directed where it is genuinely needed and managed in a way that people can trust.”
The fund is administered through the Australian Communities Foundation, providing strong governance, transparency and financial oversight, and is guided by a local Community Advisory Committee made up of people with lived experience of the bushfires and deep knowledge of the Strathbogie region.
Ms Cleeland said information about the fund, including how to access the donation portal, was available through her website, alongside broader bushfire recovery information for the region.
