Residents dig deep for victims

Festival goers dug deep to help raise $9000 for Italy following the deadly earthquake on Wednesday, August 24.

At least 290 people were killed after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck mountainous central Italy, shattering Amatrice and two other towns north-east of Rome.

Mayor John Dal Broi opened the appeal to festival goers.

He said the council, with support from councillors, had kickstarted the appeal with a $1000 donation.

Cr Dal Broi said the response from festival goers was typical of the Griffith community, which was always very generous.

"Griffith should pat themselves on the back because they always show their support and help out when it is needed,” Cr Dal Broi said.

“I am so proud of our community because if it wasn’t for the generosity at the festival we wouldn’t have been able to raise as much as we have."

Event coordinator Roy Catanzariti said he was pleased the generous spirit of Griffith residents spurred visitors to also dig deep for the cause.

“I am glad the festival acted as the perfect setting to launch the appeal and visitors were influenced by our locals to donate,’ Mr Catanzariti said.

Ferruccio Fattore, who has family in Abruzzo about 100 kilometres from Amatrice, knows first hand the devastation Italy is experiencing.

“In past years when there was an earthquake we raised money ourselves, so I am thankful to John Dal Broi and Griffith for starting this appeal and being aware of what’s happening over there,” Mr Fattore said.

“It’s important we send the money where it’s needed because what happened in Italy is so terrible - people were sleeping in the middle of the night and they were woken by the earth moving around them.”

Cr Dal Broi said the money would be donated to the appropriate organisation, which would likely be the Red Cross.

"We are going to make sure this money goes to the appropriate organisation on the ground and where it is most needed," Cr Dal Broi said.