The scale and impact of the horrendous bushfires has yet to be calculated but it is clear that it is a humanitarian as well as economic disaster. Industry supplier and trade sign printer Jetmark has wasted no time in stepping up and offering practical support in a $35,000 package as detailed below. If you are an Australian sign business directly affected by the fires and need a little help, don't hesitate to contact any of the support organisations, including this publication and Jetmark.
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| Jetmark has wasted no time in stepping in to help sign businesses with cash & other support |
Jetmark's Bushfire crisis support started with a $10,000 donation to the Rapid Relief Team (RTT) for their outstanding and fast response work. This has been followed up with the immediate availability of one hundred cash cards with a value of $250 each - a further $25,000. The cash cards are available to any sign business directly affected in bushfire areas on a one-per-business basis and can be obtained by emailing admin@jetmark.com.au. There are no lengthy application forms or processes - you just say who you are, where you are and what has happened to your business, home and family.
Apart from donating cash, Jetmark's Managing Director Craig Hornsey told Wideformatonline.com: "We are also trade only printers with Sign Partners and, if a sign shop's production has been compromised, we can produce signage at heavily discounted rates to help them continue business. This is a humanitarian crisis and we want to make sure Australian sign businesses, their families and staff get help quickly when and where they need it.
In a company statement, Jetmark adds:
"At Jetmark we have been deeply affected by the bushfire crisis that is engulfing Australia.
We are very thankful to the Federal Government and the many charities for the support they are providing across the nation.
While our thoughts and prayers are for all mankind, the directors at Jetmark have decided to reach out to help those in the signage community that are suffering financial difficulty as a result of these fires.
We are offering up to 100 signage businesses that are suffering financial difficulty as a result of bushfire crisis a $250 cash card (limit 1 per business) to help in these difficult times.
To apply for this relief please email admin@jetmark.com.au with your details or click here for further details.
Additionally we have made a donation of $10,000 to the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) Australia to support their outstanding work. Find out more about RRT www.rapidreliefteam.org
We also give a big thanks to all of Australia's emergency service personnel who have worked tirelessly to help protect our communities.
From the Directors of Jetmark
Craig Hornsey David Hornsey, Michael Hornsey, Brendon Clist "
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| Those in the front line are just amazing Australians |
Other industry help
In true Australian spirit, donations are flooding in from the four corners of the globe, from expat celebrities and businesses and also from foundations and companies connected with the Signage & Display industry. One of these is Anthony Pratt of Visy Industries who, on Monday, tweeted that the Pratt Foundation would donate one million dollars to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal "in support of the brave Australians battling the fires".
More is sure to follow, and we will acknowledge these and how fire-affected Sign businesses and their families can access support in coming issues and special reports.
Publisher's comment
Andy McCourt, publisher of Wideformatonline adds: "To all our readers in fire-affected areas, keep your spirits up - this will pass and help is at hand from all quarters. Don't despair - reach out for help without feeling embarassed. We are a community; every country town has a sign business to support other small businesses, primary producers, local and state governments and industry. If other industries support their business communities, there will be a more rapid return to normality. I've known disaster, as a youngster I survived Cyclone Tracy in Darwin and saw how Australians respond to such crises. My own brother barely rescued his family from the 1983 Victorian Ash Wednesday bushfires. We recover, we learn and we move on."
As a small token, wideformatonline.com has chipped in for an extra two $250 cash cards, accessible via the Jetmark system.
There's always a hand to hold, so beautifully explained in song by a dear friend, Mike McClellan:
