Norwegian wharfies have generously donated thousands of dollars to three Hawkesbury schools in bushfire-affected areas, Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman, has announced.

Members of the Norwegian Seafarers Union saw the coverage of last summer’s devastating bushfires and put their hands in their pockets to help out, asking the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) to identify needy schools.

“It was a long way from a Scandinavian winter, but the Norwegian Seafarers Union donated tens of thousands of dollars after seeing the devastation of the bushfires over the other side of the world, and their first thought was to help affected children or schools,” Ms Templeman said.

“Much of the funding, understandably, went to the north and south coast regions where so many homes and schools were burnt.

“But as the federal representative of a bushfire-affected electorate, I was contacted by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) to help distribute a small part of the funds here, and I put forward three small Hawkesbury schools whose communities had been affected by the fires.

“As a result, Macdonald Valley Public School, Bilpin Public School and Colo Heights Public School each received a $1000 Christmas present.

“MUA National Officer Mich-Elle Myers and I visited Colo Heights Public School earlier this month to present a cheque to Principal Glenn Ellis and the school community.

“It was a wonderful gesture from people on the other side of the world.”

Ms Myers said each of the three schools also received a book in addition to the funds, Finding Our Heart by Thomas Mayor, which explains the Uluru Statement to children.

“The power of global solidarity in the unio