UPDATE DEC 2018: After 30 successful years of community support, we have decided not to continue running the Oxfam Christmas Tree campaign. Through our Oxfam community this campaign has raised an incredible amount to tackle poverty around the world. However, it requires a significant amount of time and resources to bring it to life and so we’ve made the decision to invest in other new fundraising activities.
If you wish to buy a live tree again this year, every state has different local organisations which sell live trees often including the Scouts. You can continue to support Oxfam this Christmas by buying fairtrade Christmas decorations, gifting an Oxfam Unwrapped card or donating to our December Appeal to help protect families in Zambia from cholera
Thank you for purchasing your trees from Oxfam and we wish you a happy festive season.
For more than 30 years, Victorians have been getting freshly-cut Christmas trees home-delivered from Oxfam Australia, and now the service has branched out to include residents in Sydney and Adelaide.
The annual Christmas tree delivery raises much-needed funds to help people living in poverty.
Volunteer Brian Moran has been involved with the program for about 29 years and is thrilled more people in Australia will be able to purchase an Oxfam Christmas tree this year.
“We raised about $230,000 last year, delivering about 2,700 trees to homes across Melbourne and this year we hope to better that,” Mr Moran said.
“The money raised will go towards Oxfam’s life-saving work tackling poverty and injustice throughout the world – the perfect gift this Christmas.”
The trees are about 1.7 metres high and are priced at $89, which includes delivery. Orders can be made at www.oxfam.org.au/trees until 5pm on Monday 30 November.
On average, Oxfam sells about 2,500 trees in greater metro Melbourne and Geelong, but is hoping to lift that figure to 3,000 this year. It’s also anticipated about 1,000 trees will be sold in Adelaide and Sydney. Overall, Oxfam hopes to raise $330,00 this year.
Funds will be used to support a range of Oxfam’s work. For example, $89 can provide four families in Timor-Leste with vegetable seeds and young trees, giving them enough food to eat and sell for income.
Oxfam Australia Chief Executive Dr Helen Szoke thanked Mr Moran and other volunteers for their ongoing support of the Christmas tree program.
“The festive spirit and dedication of our volunteers is to be admired,” Dr Szoke said.
“It’s a huge accomplishment ensuring trees are delivered to homes over one weekend, and our passionate volunteers do so with much joy.”
Drivers will deliver the specially-grown Christmas trees on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December to most areas of metropolitan Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne (plus Werribee, Frankston, Melton and the Geelong area). Melbourne deliveries are all made by volunteers, with great support from Four Wheel Drive Victoria.
The trees are available for purchase at www.oxfam.org.au/trees or by calling 1800 034 034. Orders close on 30 November and will be delivered on the weekend of 5 & 6 December.
For interviews or more information, please contact Bianca Wordley on 0407 799 365 or biancaw@oxfam.org.au
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