Member for Solomon, Natasha Griggs and Member for Katherine, Willem Westra van Holthe, are calling on the community to donate a range of personal items and toiletries that will be put into care packages and sent to families affected by the floods.
The packages will contain items such as soap, shampoo, combs, brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, tissues, towels, cleaning items, cloths and rubber gloves.
They will be sent to Queensland in plastic containers with re-sealable lids, which will also be useable during and after the clean-up.
“Of course the immediate demand from welfare agencies is for financial support,” Ms Griggs said.
“But in the coming days and weeks there will be a real need for personal items that may not be available in supermarkets and shops for some time to come.
“Territorians are generous by nature and I call on the community to get behind our campaign to provide care packages for families affected by the floods.”
Mr Westra van Holthe said the experience of Katherine residents after the 1998 floods was that personal items and toiletries were widely sought after and difficult to obtain.
“People here really appreciated receiving packages containing toothpaste, towels and related items that they couldn’t obtain in the town in the flood aftermath,” he said.
“When the victims of the Queensland floods return to their homes, it’s unlikely they will be able to get toiletries and personal care products for some time. That’s where the broader community can assist.”
Goods can be dropped off at Natasha Griggs’ electoral office in the Smith Street Mall, Terry Mills’ electoral office at the Oasis Shopping Centre Palmerston or at the Katherine YMCA.
Nighthawk Transport will send items between Katherine and Darwin and Northline will provide free transport between Darwin and Brisbane. Katherine Woolworths has agreed to donate a significant number of goods to be included in the packages