WFI Insurance has donated A$50,000 to the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Disaster Relief Fund to support farmers affected by bushfires in Victoria, the IAG-subsidiary announced in a 15 January news release.
The fund aims to provide immediate assistance to farming communities impacted by the fires, with support administered through the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), which represents agricultural producers across the state.
The donation follows a period of heightened fires across rural Australia, particularly in Victoria. Bushfires this month have damaged farmland and agricultural infrastructure, placing additional pressure on farming communities already facing challenging conditions.
Reported losses include approximately 20,000 head of livestock and the complete destruction of many vineyards, which compound direct property damage and increase overall economic losses, according to Aon.
The January blazes have now been designated as an ‘insurance catastrophe’ by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA). As of 16 January, insurers have received nearly 2,400 claims, the ICA added.
Damien Gallagher, executive general manager at WFI Insurance, said the company was directing support to on-the-ground partners involved in disaster response and recovery.
The company’s donation also comes just a week after WFI announced a partnership with Rural Aid to assist agricultural communities in north-west Queensland affected by prolonged heavy rainfall and flooding following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji.
