Co-op News - February 2020

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AUSTRALIA Co-ops and credit unions respond as bushfire crisis spins out of control Co-ops in Australia and around the world have stepped up their response to the bushfires devastating the country. The fires have killed at least 33 people, destroyed more than 2,600 homes, burned an estimated 46 million acres of land and, it is feared, killed more than a billion animals, with some species facing extinction as a result. Credit Union Journal (CUJ) has reported that a number of organisations have been impacted by the crisis, with at least eight credit unions forced to close one branch or more because of power cuts and smoke hazards. It reports that some credit union staff have lost homes and been sleeping in cars or on the beach. Among those affected are Horizon Credit Union, based in Wollongong, New South Wales (NSW), which has seen 50 members lose their homes, with one member confirmed dead, said the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA). The destruction of members’ homes could impact the credit union’s loan portfolio, but for now the focus is on helping those members. Staff are deferring loan payments, helping members file insurance claims and promoting public health and temporary accommodation services from the government . Staff have also been working to help rescue wildlife from the fires, with one staff member bringing orphaned joeys to the office with her to care for. The bushfires have had a devastating effect on Australia’s agricultural sector, with the government expecting livestock deaths at more than 100,000, and farmers struggling to get fodder and feed to animals. This is expected to have a knockon effect for the dairy industry, which is already suffering from market uncertainty and price fluctuations. Apex body the Business Council for Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) has thrown its weight behind the Australian Mutuals Foundation’s (AMF) appeal. Co-operatives UK, which represents the UK sector, is partnering with BCCM on the appeal, which also has the backing of the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions. From the USA, apex body NCBA Clusa is raising funds through its own charity. BCCM said it has been “heartened by the solidarity shown by the international co-operative movement”. Ed Mayo, secretary general of Co-operatives UK, said: “It will be hard for those affected to rebuild their lives and their homes. We hope, by standing together with the Australian co-op sector, we can help play a role in supporting relief efforts and future reconstruction.” A number of co-ops, credit unions and mutuals in Australia are responding to the crisis, donating to relief efforts, giving assistance to affected members and offering extended leave to staff volunteering for fire fighting efforts. COBA – which represents 72 financial institutions on the World Council of Credit Unions – said it will help customers as they rebuild their lives and properties. Grain-handling co-op CBH has teamed up with oat and grain company Blue Lake Milling on a AU$50,000 donation to BlazeAid, a volunteer-based organisation that works with families in rural Australia after natural disasters, rebuild destroyed infrastructure. It is supporting local firefighters with packs of sunburn cream, lip balm, hydrolyte and dust masks. Rabobank, which provides co-op banking to Australia’s farmers, has announced measures including deferral of loan payments, waivers of fees on early redemption of farm management deposits, and loan increases for rebuilding work. The farmer members of the Organic & Regenerative Investment Co-operative are being supported by volunteers and have raised over $20,000 through their appeal to support impacted organic farmers across Australia with emergency fodder and for farm rebuilding. The Cobargo Co-op rural supplies store in Bega Valley Shire, NSW, re-opened two days after the fires decimated the small community. Operating without power they took orders and supplied goods to local farmers, businesses and community members. Staff are working to help the community rebuild. 16 | FEBRUARY 2020
Bowral Co-operative Ltd & Saddleworld in the Southern Highlands of NSW have been donating products including stock feed and are helping affected members, alongside fundraising efforts. Australian Unity mutual has made a $100,000 donation to Australian Red Cross to assist relief and recovery efforts and will also match dollar-for-dollar any contributions its 7,000-plus employees make to Red Cross and a number of organisations supporting wildlife and the environment. It has introduced measures to financially support members, customers and employees affected by the fires, is carrying out wellbeing checks on home care and disability customers in affected areas, distributing care packages to displaced Aboriginal Home Care customers, sending emergency relief packages to employees affected by the fires, and offering special leave arrangements for staff who are emergency volunteers or reservists. Insurance mutual HCF has donated $20,000 to the Red Cross and $30,000 to the Royal Fire Service and is giving special leave to employees whose families are affected by the fires. HCF members suffering financial hardship are being offered a suspension of their membership fees for one to six months depending on their circumstances. For health insurance members, the group is offering up to three months free premiums. Credit Union Australia (CUA) has donated $50,000 each to the NSW, Queensland and Victorian fire services. These donations follow a $25,000 contribution from CUA to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund in early December, to help volunteers continue to support communities impacted by the bushfires. CUA is helping members affected by the fires by waiving fees and repayments and supporting staff members who are performing duties as volunteer firefighters or emergency services directly involved in the bushfire response. Queensland Country Credit Union is offering similar assistance to those affected, as is the WAW Credit Union – which is among those organisations forced to temporarily close some sites because of the fires. The Geraldton Fishermens’ Co-operative has allocated funds from its Christmas fund for the bushfire appeal and has called out to its members to donate to the cause from their fishing payments. Go Vita has over 140, member-owned stores Australia wide. Many are located in small regional communities that have been impacted by the bushfires and some members including stores in Tenterfield and Bateman’s Bay have been affected. Go Vita, on behalf of store owners, has pledged at least $500 per day for January to support those affected, contributing to both the Red Cross and Wires. Go Vita is working with health product suppliers to further The orchards of three member growers of the Lenswood Apples – Lenswood Cold Stores Co-Operative Society Limited have been affected by the bushfires in the Adelaide Hills and the co-op is assessing its response. The AMF said: “The support from individual members of credit unions and mutuals has been great and we have received donations from members far and wide: Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and all parts of New South Wales, including Bathurst, Orange, the Central Coast and Sydney. Thank you to Unity Bank, G & C Mutual Bank and Move Bank for making corporate donations.” All donations are being passed to the St Vincent De Paul Society (Vinnies) to help those affected to rebuild their lives. On its website, BCCM said: “Co-ops and mutuals are embedded in local, and often regional communities, and some may be directly impacted by the fires. Many co-ops and mutuals are already leveraging their local connections to support communities to manage during the crisis and to recover and rebound in the aftermath. “We are a community of enterprises committed to co-operation and mutual support. Throughout this crisis, we will continue to work together to support each other and our community.” BCCM is asking members to share their own stories of the bushfire crisis, to help it direct support to where it most needed. u To support the Australian Mutuals Foundation Appeal, visit the AMF website australianmf.org.au FEBRUARY 2020 | 17
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Page 3 and 4: Questions for retail in the 2020s C
Page 5 and 6: NEWS GROUP Co-op Group announces ho
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Page 9 and 10: SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Belfast worker co
Page 11 and 12: Southern Co-op to stock specialist
Page 13 and 14: AGRICULTURE Co-operatives UK calls
Page 15: USA Co-op development funding incre
Page 19 and 20: USA Ohio newspaper issues shares to
Page 21 and 22: Nominations open for NCBA CLUSA boa
Page 23 and 24: in part because they are separate;
Page 25 and 26: ERSKINE HOLMES Born into co-operati
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Page 31 and 32: Top: Marloes Nicholls, head of prog
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Page 37 and 38: would also be used for renovations,
Page 39 and 40: A DELIVEROO RIDER partner with them
Page 41 and 42: MEMBERS OF COOPERATION TOWN, WHICH
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Page 49 and 50: Together we will reach new heights
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Co-op News - February 2020

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