Kangaroo Island bushfire appeals had a huge representation in the top 10 of GoFundMe online fundraisers for SA in 2020.
Seven of the top 10 are KI related, with koala rescue and the mayor's appeal at the top of the list.
In addition to the top causes, there were numerous other fundraisers on the online platform that helped KI locals.
Just over $10,000 was raised for Jonny Gloyne through a GoFundMe page set up by Pip Faulkner of Parndana, entitled "Help Jon buy a Saw Mill to help rebuild KI".
His Lucas Mill timber saw has already put it to good use building the new deck around his own house, and now he will use to help other fire victims build their decks.
It will now help him rebuild his own timber crafts business - Red Gum Gallery and workshop.
RELATED READING: Jonny Gloyne starts rebuilding Roo Lagoon after bushfire
New data from GoFundMe shows that Australians are continuing to donate to those in need despite the economic impact of bushfires and COVID-19.
A record-breaking 600,000 Australians have donated to causes they care about in the first six months of 2020.
Almost twice as many Australians have launched a GoFundMe page in the 'emergency' category so far this year compared to last year. Meanwhile, donations to emergency fundraisers have increased threefold.
Giving little or large is having an impact. Over 40 per cent of donations by Australians this year have been $20 or under, collectively raising millions.
The top GoFundMe pages in SA (in terms of donation volume) are:
- Help save Kangaroo Islands Koalas and wildlife
- Help Kangaroo Island's Koala Sanctuary
- Kangaroo Island Bushfire Support Fund
- Kangaroo Island - Mayor's Bushfire Appeal
- Kangaroo Island - Paul's Place animal fire relief
- Save The Kangaroo Island Dunnart From Extinction
- Claxton Family
- Help Save Covie
- Save the Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee
- Thirsty Koalas in Adelaide
Interesting trends noted on GoFundMe 2020
- Australians are backing the frontline. Donations have flooded in for firefighters who lost their homes and lives while saving their community and thousands of nutritious meals and barista made coffees were delivered to medical workers on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Small business fundraising surge. As the COVID-19 restrictions and New Year's bushfires impacted small businesses across the country, Aussies backed their local businesses with a 180 per cent year on year growth in small business fundraising.
- Australians stand in solidarity for Indigenous rights. The resurgence in attention to Aboriginal deaths in custody in light of George Floyd's death has seen more than $2 million dollars raised for Indigenous rights causes in June. This includes half a million dollars each for Debbie Kilroy's #FreeHer campaign to help release women from prison for being unable to pay their fines. The family of David Dungay Junior raised over $500k to seek justice over his death in custody.
- Australian ties to Bali are stronger than ever. Since March, Aussies have donated over half a million dollars to Indonesian communities, small businesses and families adversely impacted by the COVID-19 downturn.
- Aussies are stepping up for charity challenges. Charity fundraising has reached a whole new level, with Australians shaving heads, running ultra marathons and cycling the breadth of the country in return for donations. There has been a 35 percent increase in Aussies shaving their hair for charitable causes in the first half of 2020 compared to this time last year.
Stan Gorton
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
