Local women urged to bring in old bras for a good cause
Thursday June 11, 2009
Ann Crossing and Tracey Kings have kick started the collection of local second hand bras which are being collected as part of a joint project between a number of Rotary Clubs, including Cobar, to be distributed to women in the Pacific Islands.
Cobar women are lending their support (in more ways than one) to a good cause by donating their bras to Rotary project Operation Uplift.
Bruce Macarthur from the Cobar Rotary Club said Rotary became aware of the plight of the females in the Pacific Islands having to work in the heat, sweat and dirt without the support of bras and contracting the associated skin ailments.
“The Rotary Club of Cobar decided to do something about it and introduced the project to the Rotary clubs of Double Bay, Maroubra, Randwick and Bondi Junction.
“We now have over six cubic metres of packed bras destined for Tonga with Cobar the first club to provide finance for shipping,” Mr Macarthur said.
“Collecting, packing and delivering the bras to Sydney is the easy part and the difficulty then is raising the funds to pay shipping, port costs, customs etc.
“The political state of the recipient country is important because under unstable conditions, a destination port may suddenly impose import duty on a shipment.
“If there isn’t money available to pay the duty the initial shipping freight is wasted when the bras become local land fill of unclaimed goods.”
Mr Macarthur said the demand for bras is ongoing however delivering the product is not without considerable cost.
“It is a project that has outstanding support at the collection stage because it attracts female attention and an understanding of the need but the success is limited by the cost of delivering the goods,” he said.
Nymagee woman Megan Nicholson is helping to coordinate the collection of bras in Cobar.
“My mother, Brenda Roberts, is a member of the Wagga Wagga Inner Wheel Club [which is working with Rotary on this project].
“The club is collecting bras to support this worthy cause,” Mrs Nicholson said.
“Some of the women who receive these bras have never had a bra or must spend 10 hours worth of wages to purchase their only bra.
“All second-hand bras are welcome, as these usually do not attract import duty,” she said.
“Worn out bras can be used for spare parts and strap extenders.
“Sports bras for farm work and maternity bras are very welcome.”
Bras for the cause can be left with Ann Crossing at Kevin Humphries office in Barton Street.
Next story | News home
.jpg)