Australia wildfires: Chris Hemsworth donates $1 million to help firefighters and urges people to 'dig deep'

Actor says money will go directly to firefighters and communities in need of support

Tuesday 07 January 2020 09:14 GMT

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Chris Hemsworth donates $1 million towards Australia's fire-fighting efforts

Chris Hemsworth has pledged to donate $1m (£524,952) towards helping local fire services and residents in Australia who have been affected by the worsening wildfire crisis.

On Tuesday, the actor shared a video on Instagram in which he highlighted the devastation the fires are causing and urged his followers to help in any way they can.

“Hey there guys, as you’re well aware the bushfires in Australia have caused massive devastation,” the 36-year-old said.

“They continue to burn, there’s warmer weather on its way, we’re really still in the thick of it here, as is plenty of challenging times ahead still to come [sic].”

So far, the fires have claimed 24 lives and have destroyed more than 1,500 homes, ravaging through more than four million hectares of land.

Last week, ecologists at the University of Sydney estimated that around 480 million animals had been killed in the wildfires, including 8,000 koalas.

The actor continued by revealing that he is making a substantial donation before asking his fans to “contribute in any way, shape or form”.

“Every dollar counts. That money goes directly to the firefighters, the people on the frontline, the people who have suffered, the communities that have taken a hit and who are in desperate need of our support,” Hemsworth added.

The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

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1/12The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Selena Gomez

To her 164 million fans, the 27-year-old pop star wrote that she is “absolutely devastated” by the fires and pledged a donation to Celeste Barber’s fundraiser. “Absolutely devastated by the fires in Australia,” she wrote. “Praying for everyone affected and all of the first responders. I'm making a donation and would love if you would consider doing the same if you can.”

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The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman, a native Australian, shared a message along with a photo of a firefighter in the midst of the bushfires. “We want to express our deep gratitude to the people in Australia who are fighting these devastating bushfires. Our hearts are with everyone impacted especially those who have lost homes businesses and loved ones,” the Logan actor wrote. “This is an immense tragedy for our home country.”

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The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

Hollywood star Nicole Kidman and her husband, country singer Keith Urban, pledged $500,000. Speaking to Studio 10's Angela Bishop in Los Angeles on Sunday, Kidman said her family are “devastated for Australia” and had pledged the money to help support those tackling the fires. Urban also announced the couple's generous donation via Twitter, writing: “Our family’s support, thoughts, and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires all over Australia. “We are donating $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services who are all doing and giving so much right now,” he added.

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The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Pink

Pink shared links to local state fire services in Australia where her Twitter followers could donate. The 40-year-old pop star said she is “totally devastated” and pledged a donation of $500,000.

The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Dacre Montgomery

Australian actor and Stranger Things star Dacre Montgomery made an emotional video pleading for people to help in any way they could. “Australia is in dire need of your help,” he said. “There are so many communities on fire right now, half a billion animals have died and we've lost an area the size of Belgium to wildfires.”

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The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Kylie Minogue

The pop star, whose advert encouraging Brits to visit Australia was recently pulled, has donated half a million dollars to help tackle the fires. “Last year I had the incredible opportunity of visiting some of the many beautiful places in my homeland for the first time,” she said in an Instagram post. “Returning home to such devastation throughout much of the country is heartbreaking. “As a family, we’ve donated $500,000 towards the immediate firefighting efforts and the ongoing support which will be required. “Big or small, from near or far, any support will help those affected by the devastating bushfires.”

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The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe used his Golden Globe win to highlight the “tragedy unfolding” as bushfires continue to ravish Australia. The New Zealand-born star, who has lived most of his life in Australia, won Best Actor for the Showtime series The Loudest Voice. However, he missed the event, choosing instead to stay at home to help fight the fires. In a video shared to his Twitter page, Crowe showed the details of his truck for “when things get crazy”, containing a water tank, fire blankets, spare hoses and other firefighting equipment, along with his shiny Golden Globe on the seat inside the vehicle. Making a statement on his behalf at the ceremony, Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon said: “Make no mistake, the tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate-change based.”

Russell Crowe. Credit: Getty

The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

The Fleabag star, who won the award for Best Actress in a comedy or musical television series, is said to have made the announcement backstage that she will auction the outfit she wore to the ceremony. “Backstage: Phoebe Waller-Bridge says she is auctioning off her Ralph & Russo #GoldenGlobes suit to raise money for the Australia wildfires,” reporter Andrea Mandell tweeted. She added that Waller-Bridge said: “The money that is raised will go towards relief in Australia.”

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The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Cate Blanchett

Blanchett, who was presenting an award at this year’s Golden Globes, used her speech to give thanks to volunteer firefighters, and draw attention to the global “climate disaster”. “There are a lot of Australians in the room tonight,” she said. “I know we are all very grateful for the call-outs to our fellow compatriots who are suffering under the bushfires, so thank you. “I wanted to do a special call-out to the volunteer firefighters who have been at the centre of battling the climate disaster that is facing Australia. “And of course, when one country faces a climate disaster, we all face a climate disaster, so we’re in it together, so thank you very much.”

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The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Patricia Arquette

Arquette won best supporting actress in a series, limited series or TV movie for her role in Hulu series The Act at the Golden Globes. “I am so happy to be here and celebrate this, but also I know that … we see a country on the brink of war, the United States of America … and the continent of Australia on fire,” she said. “While I love my kids so much, I beg of us all to give them a better world. For our kids and their kids, we have to vote in 2020 and beg and plead for everyone we know to vote in 2020.”

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The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone re-posted a photo shared by climate crisis activist Greta Thunberg on her Instagram page. "My heartfelt prayers for relief from the fires in Australia," Stone wrote alongside a photo of a kangaroo in front of a destroyed home.

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The celebrities pledging to support Australia as it battles wildfires

Rebel Wilson

“It's obviously a weird time in Australia, and last night we were having dinner just thinking about everybody with the bushfires and how we can help,” she said. “I was just on a group text chat this morning with some other Aussie actors about what we can do for the bushfire situation because it's so overwhelming and so devastating and so our thoughts are kind of with that. ”Thinking of all those firefighters out there, it's just, my heart goes out to everyone.“

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“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who's sent all their well-wishes and donations already. It's greatly appreciated here in Australia.

“Dig deep, lots of love and we'll keep pushing forwards. Cheers.”

Hemsworth captioned the video with similar message, writing: “My family and I are contributing a million dollars. Hopefully you guys can chip in too. Every penny counts so whatever you can muster up is greatly appreciated.

“In my bio I’ve added links to support the fire fighters, organisations and charities who are working flat out to provide support and relief during this devastating and challenging time."

The star concluded by saying he is “beyond appreciative” to people who have shared their well wishes and donations.

Several high-profile celebrities have been using their followings on social media to help raise awareness and funds for local Australian fire services.

On Friday, Australian actor and comedian Celeste Barber shared photographs on Instagram taken from inside the house of her mother-in-law, showing a bright orange sky through her windows.

A fundraising page set up by Barber on Facebook has raised more than $27m (£14.3m) so far.

Other celebrities, including Selena Gomez, Pink and Nicole Kidman have also donated hundreds of thousands, while Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett led a number of Hollywood stars urging people to take action and support Australia as it battles the fires during their speeches at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

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