24 March 2009 - Southlanders have been generous in donating just over $850 to the victims of the Victorian bushfires through the Southland District Council.

Donation boxes were put in all the Council's offices in Invercargill, Winton, Riverton, Otautau, Lumsden, Te Anau, Stewart Island and Wyndham and staff also donated money from a social club raffle and casual day.

The money will be sent to the Red Cross.

"We all felt a deep sympathy for our close neighbours and we thought collection boxes might make it a bit easier for people to make a donation," Mayor Frana Cardno said.

"Every little bit helps and it is just amazing how Southlanders will dig into their pockets to help out some one else.

"Well done everyone."

More than 200 people were killed in the bushfires which swept through large parts of Victoria and two teams of rural firefighters from Southland have been in Australia helping to control the fires.