Beijing Venues Rally Together for Australian Wildfire Fundraisers This Weekend

In light of the harrowing wildfires currently blighting Australia, several Beijing venues and organizations have rallied together to do their part in aiding our friends down under.

The damage to the country caused by the fires has been unprecedented, so far eviscerating an estimated 8.4 million hectares of land, killing 25 people, destroying thousands of homes, and causing the deaths of an estimated 1.25 billion animals. And the worst may be still yet to come: 'bushfire season' in Australia can last as late as May or June and while much of the country's resources have been deployed to the affected areas, other states and regions around the country are left vulnerable to their own fire crises. 

Australian rural communities have long relied upon volunteer firefighter brigades, and as these volunteers – a number of whom have been killed by the fires – have taken leave from their regular jobs to fight the fires, fundraising is vital to support them and to combat this ongoing catastrophe. The government of the southeastern state of New South Wales declared a state of emergency last month after severe droughts and high temperatures led to the faster and wider spread of the fires, which can reach speeds of up to 70km/h.

To make matters worse, in order to adapt to the harsh Australian climate many native plants have high oil content. This makes them highly combustible, and once fires start or enter Australia's National Parks and state forests, they burn uncontrollably. As the organizers explain: "Many Australians live in areas adjacent to or surrounded by 'bush.' Bush is the term used to describe all types of trees and shrubs and grasses that grow naturally in Australia. The main trees in Australia are eucalyptus. In very hot and dry conditions, the eucalyptus oil starts to vaporize, and when fire is present, it can cause minor explosions called firestorms."

The severity of the current disaster has been attributed to sub-par land stewardship, chronic underfunding of regional fires services, as well as climate change, with longer and hotter summers leading to increasingly devastating fires. 

Clearly, our Aussie mates need our help. Donations have been pouring in from celebrities and organizations worldwide, from the likes of Lewis Hamilton to Kylie Minogue, and now it's Beijing's turn. For four days straight, these venues are holding fundraisers so that you can do your part to support those battling the flames.

Thursday, Jan 16: Summer Down Under at Jing-A Longfusi

For the first event, Jing-A will host an Australian-themed dinner at their Longfusi taproom courtesy of Head Chef (and fellow Aussie) Simone Thompson. The tropical menu includes seafood, fruits, and roasted meats and ends with "the ultimate antipodean indulgence: pavlova," bluddy beautiful mayte! The dinner's priced RMB 400 per head or RMB 1,200 for a table of four, with 50 percent of each bill going to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, who are fully comprised of volunteers.

Friday, Jan 17: Aussie Takeover at Paddy O'Shea's

Beijing's favorite Irish pub is going full-Oz on Friday thanks to the three sports teams who call the pub home (Aardvarks, Bombers, Ducks). There'll be live music from Tavey Lean & The Solid Gold Dream Machine, Aussie food like shepherd's pie, lots of Victoria Bitter, and a massive raffle, including vouchers and swag galore. All proceeds from sales of 31Jiu, Wine Republic, and the aforementioned pie will go to charity. Expect this one to get nice and rowdy, just like our Aussie brethren would want.

Saturday, Jan 18: Australia Day Barbecue at East Beijing

Then the party moves to East Hotel on Saturday for a slap-up daytime barbie starting at 11am. The fundraising will include a raffle supported by the Australian Chamber of Commerce, free-flow beers from Oh Yeah! Brewing, and Australian wines from the Clare Valley. Don't worry mum and dad, there'll be a craft corner and face painting for the younguns so that you can sit back and enjoy the cricket.

Sunday, Jan 19: Australian Wildfire Relief Buffet at Pebbles Courtyard

Ok, it's not good form to be biased in times of tragedy but did someone say all-you-can-eat tacos? Pebbles go all-out for the final wildfire event of the weekend, offering two taco buffet seatings (5pm and 7.30pm) for RMB 288 on Sunday with profits going towards Red Cross Disaster Relief. Tacos will feature six to eight different fillings such as Aussie Wagyu flank steak and homemade chorizo while bottomless drinks include margaritas, tequila, and Coronas (better book Monday off now). As if you needed another reason to get your arse over there, this will be Pebbles' final dinner service before the Chinese New Year break.

Crikey, it's already shaping up to be a corker of a weekend.

READ: Safety and Security for Foreigners Living in Beijing: Some Quick Tips

Images courtesy of the organizers