WA fires: Donated cars continue to roll in to Yarloop

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This was published 8 years ago

WA fires: Donated cars continue to roll in to Yarloop

By Heather McNeill
Updated

Second-hand cars donated by good samaritans continue to arrive in Yarloop with one stranger handing over an Audi A3 to a single mother whose family home was destroyed in the January 6 bushfires.

​Since donating his Landcruiser to a Yarloop resident last Thursday, Perth fly-in, fly-out worker Aaron Latham sparked more than 14 other good-willed West Australians to do the same.

A Yarloop firefighter whose home was destroyed in the bushfires receives a donated car from a stranger.

A Yarloop firefighter whose home was destroyed in the bushfires receives a donated car from a stranger. Credit: Facebook / Cars for a Cause

One week on on, he says more than 40 cars have been flagged to be donated, prompting the 27-year-old to launch a Facebook page, Cars for a Cause, to help connect donors with bushfire victims and others in need.

"So far we've delivered 13 vehicles and we have nine other Yarloop residents who would like a vehicle," he said.

Yep, even an Audi was donated.

Yep, even an Audi was donated.Credit: Facebook / Cars for a Cause

Yesterday, Mr Latham drove down to the fire ravaged South West town and donated a Commodore to a firefighter whose house burnt to the ground while he was fighting the fires.

"I visited him yesterday and he was living in his shed with his partner," he said.

Mr Latham said the reactions of those who received the cars varied with most humbled by the generous gesture.

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"Everyone's very humble and emotional, some people are really upset, but an excited kind of upset...there's a lot going on for them," he said.

Graham received his new car after losing his old one in the Yarloop fires.

Graham received his new car after losing his old one in the Yarloop fires.

Mr Latham said the overwhelming response to his idea to donate cars to those in need has prompted him to plan to set up a not-for-profit business.

"What I'm trying to do now is, there's a lot of people all the time that need assistance and need vehicles and I'd like to continue this for other causes later on - whether that comes from other natural disasters or domestic violence issues," he said.

Authorities have encouraged people wishing to contribute to do so via the official Distress Relief Fund.

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