On 9th January 2023, Tarayana Foundation handed over 2,000 fire uniforms worth USD 4,00,000 to the De-Suung Head Office. The uniforms were donated by Fire and Rescue, New South Wales and initiated by firefighter Thomas Wilson and well-wisher Julia Booth. Thomas visited Bhutan in 2015 as part of his Bachelor of Sustainability course through the University of New England, and Julia is a professor and long-time friend of Bhutan.
This endeavor was realized through the generosity and vision of the Tarayana Dragons, who facilitated the process and covered the freight and transportation charges from Australia to Thimphu. Due guidance and assistance were also rendered by Catherine Harris and His Excellency Ambassador Sonam Tobgay, and Dr. Sherub Phuntsho, president of the Australia Association of Sydney Incorporated (ABAC) in Australia.
This initiative is an important development in an extended program to assist the capacity building and equipment supply for the De-suups and the Bhutanese firefighters.