Comedian Celeste Barber calls for donations for WA bushfires

Comedian Celeste Barber calls for donations for WA bushfires – after a court ruled the $51million she raised for the devastating NSW fires could not be given to other charities

Comedian Celeste Barber has asked her fans to donate to help those who have lost their homes in the Western Australian bushfires.  

The fires in the Perth Hills, WA, have decimated at least 86 homes so far and burned almost 11,000 hectares in total.

In a post shared to Instagram Stories on Saturday, the 38-year-old wrote: ‘More than 80 homes have been lost in these Perth fires. 

Help wanted: Comedian Celeste Barber (pictured) has asked her fans to donate to help those who have lost their homes in the Western Australian bushfires

‘Swipe up to donate to Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund. Stay safe WA’.

The post pictured an ABC article with a photograph of some of the devastation, and a link to the Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund.

Celeste famously raised $51 million for NSW bushfire relief in early 2020. 

In a post shared to Instagram Stories on Saturday, the 38-year-old wrote: 'More than 80 homes have been lost in these Perth fires. Swipe up to donate to Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund. Stay safe WA'

In a post shared to Instagram Stories on Saturday, the 38-year-old wrote: ‘More than 80 homes have been lost in these Perth fires. Swipe up to donate to Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund. Stay safe WA’

Devastating: The fires in the Perth Hills, WA, have decimated at least 86 homes so far and burned almost 11,000 hectares in total

Devastating: The fires in the Perth Hills, WA, have decimated at least 86 homes so far and burned almost 11,000 hectares in total

A Supreme Court judge ruled in May 2020 that the funds cannot be distributed to other charities, but can be given to the families of injured or killed firefighters. 

The money had been sitting in legal limbo since January when Celeste launched her appeal on Facebook during the bushfire crisis with an inital goal of $30,000.

The comedian ended up raising $51.3 million and nominated the NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donation Fund as beneficiaries. 

Issues: Celeste famously raised $51 million for NSW bushfire relief in early 2020. A Supreme Court judge ruled in May 2020 that the funds cannot be distributed to other charities, but can be given to the families of injured or killed firefighters

 Issues: Celeste famously raised $51 million for NSW bushfire relief in early 2020. A Supreme Court judge ruled in May 2020 that the funds cannot be distributed to other charities, but can be given to the families of injured or killed firefighters

Limbo: The money had been sitting in legal limbo since January when Celeste launched her appeal on Facebook during the bushfire crisis with an inital goal of $30,000

Limbo: The money had been sitting in legal limbo since January when Celeste launched her appeal on Facebook during the bushfire crisis with an inital goal of $30,000 

But she was at the time unaware the deed governing that trust only allows money to be spent on purchasing and maintaining equipment, training and administrative costs. 

Justice Slattery ruled the trustees can give the money to families of deceased firefighters. 

But the court also ruled the money can’t go towards certain charities, including the Australian Red Cross, other state RFS divisions, and wildlife group WIRES. 

Ruling: The court ruled the money can't go towards certain charities, including the Australian Red Cross, other state RFS divisions, and wildlife group WIRES

Ruling: The court ruled the money can’t go towards certain charities, including the Australian Red Cross, other state RFS divisions, and wildlife group WIRES