The Queensland floods
At the beginning of 2011 the Queensland area of Australia was hit by the worst floods for a generation. At least 35 people were killed and a state of emergency was declared. The cost of the damage was estimated to be in the region of a billion Australian dollars.
At times like these it is customary for people to come out and help to rebuild their communities, but it is equally important that companies and corporations contribute to the clean up. All over the world Diageo has tried to be at the forefront of such efforts, and Queensland was no exception.
Diageo’s first response was an immediate contribution of $A110,000 (£72,000) to the disaster. This was followed up by further donations to the emergency services. In total Diageo, the Diageo Foundation and the Bundaberg Distilling Company invested A$750,000 (£492,500) to help put the community back together.
Often, though, it’s the more mundane and less expensive things that are an immediate help in a time of crisis. Luckily, our offices in the Bundaberg area had shower facilities at a time when many people’s homes had been destroyed by floods. Diageo employees were able to bring their families and loved ones for a much needed shower.