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| Tuesday, 11 January 2005 |
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by Panduka Senanayake In spontaneous support for victims of the Boxing Day `Tsunami" disaster including those in Sri Lanka, Australians from all walks of life Saturday opened their hearts and dug deep into their pockets to raise over A $ 15 million in a two hour `fund raiser'. In the event, named 'Australia Unites-Reach out to Asia', organised by World Vision in conjunction with three popular TV networks, the airline and hotels industries, business community and others including a host of volunteers from various organisations, Australian celebrities including top TV presenters, singers and others raised $ 15 million 198,349.53. Almost no holds were barred in the event where an attractive fund raiser allowed her bottom to be pinched for $ 5 a pinch, by a few from the tens of thousands of fans, who thronged the Sydney Opera House environs to see the musical show which involved singers flown across from all over Australia at short notice. Simulcast over the three main TV networks, from the steps of the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne, the event was broadcast live over radio across some of the affected countries including Sri Lanka, which was given wide exposure during the event. Drawing parallels with Sri Lanka's population of 19 million, which was equivalent to that of the whole of Australia, it was pointed out how the affected number of people in the island, amounted to that of Adelaide in South Australia. The program cut across to affected areas in Indonesia and included live interviews with Aussie survivors in Phuket and flashbacks of the diaster in the different countries. And as they listened and watched the program, the whole of Australia seemed to dig deep into their pockets and tills. Large sums were donated by the Banks and other business establishments and philanthropists. But it was the children who stole the hearts. Among them were a brother and sister aged five and three years who extracted the $ 50 they had received for Christmas and an eight year old, who had lost her leg due to cancer who donated $ 100. Though the program ended at 9.30 p.m., the fund raising by World Vision would continue. |
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