EARLY last year Freo’s favourite Chook put out a call for donations. And now, we are doing it again.

Then, we needed donor funds to help us through the covid pandemic economic slump.

This time it’s the savage anti-inflation interest rate rises distressing our business advertisers.

The federal Small Business Ombudsman reckons just over 40 per cent of small businesses are struggling hard.

The Chook is a very rare bird

There are very few of us still publishing independent news, free every week, to tens of thousands of vital rusted-on readers.

To do this the Chook normally relies on ads from healthy small business. Regrettably, many smashed by the pandemic are being bashed again by upward interest rates and cost of living.

Like the UK Guardian news website in Australia and a host of other independent ethical news media we need voluntary gifts – one off, weekly, or monthly – to keep us on track.

The last call for donations worked wonders and saw us through.

Every dollar bolstered the vital cause of our responsible journalism, trusted by our readers for 34 years.

And in these trying economic times we simply have to do it again.

Can you help please? 

For more, follow the QR code.

Please send your donations to Herald Reserve, BSB 086 217, Account 63-951-0124. Or mail it to PO Box 85, North Fremantle 6159.

Please email  accounts@fremantleherald.com or text 0438 933 300 so we can let you now how grateful we are.