KNYSNA NEWS - Very soon after the disastrous fires in Knysna, district 9370 (the Rotary club of the Eastern Cape) sprang into action, led by then director governor (DG) Bruce Steele-Gray and later by current DG Wally Jacobs. 

They raised over R700 000 in just two weeks.

Their approach was slightly different in that they coordinated all their respective clubs’ contributions into a district pool. Ways of distributing funds was then discussed at length with the many stakeholders, including clubs from the affected areas. 

The Knysna area was identified as the area that had suffered most damage and they received the bulk of the funding, for onward distribution to identified fire victim families.

The two men were at the Rotary lunch on Tuesday 9 January when they were thanked by Rotary Knysna president Doug Emanuel, for their generosity in helping to provide support to the thousands of people in the community who had lost all their possessions.

A copy of the Knysna Fire Stories book was handed to Jacobs as a token of appreciation for their support.

The mayor of Knysna, Eleanor Bouw-Spies, was also on hand at the luncheon to thank Jacobs on behalf of the community of Knysna.

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