The club is collecting second hand bras for the Uplift Fiji project, to help provide bras to indigenous Fijian women.

Rotary Club of Maffra and local organiser Vanessa Noble said they had so far collected about 500 bras from around the shire and they are on the hunt for more.

``We've had a great response so far, it's really started to snowball in Maffra,'' she said.

Bras are an essential piece of apparel to many ladies but for disadvantaged indigenous Fijian women, bras suiting the Fijian build are hard to find among the second hand Australian clothes stores they shop at.

A new bra costs $40 and the average wage ranges from $1.50 to $4.50 an hour.

As a result, many Fijian women can't afford a bra and medical issues can arise from not wearing one.

In the hot, humid climate, fungal infections and abcesses can occur between the breast and chest wall.

The Uplift Fiji project is run through Rotary International World Community Service and to date has sent over more than 10,000 bras.

The project aims to collect about 100,000. Every bra donated will be the only bra a particular woman owns.

Ms Noble said all second hand bras size 14 or bigger are welcome, and the bigger the better as larger sizes are the most needed.

Sports bras and nursing bras are especially a priority and smaller or worn out bras are also welcome as they can be used for their hooks and straps.

Rotary has an import duty exemption for second hand goods taken into Fiji for charitable purposes, so the bras need to be second hand.

``Once we've collected enough we'll be taking them down to Melbourne, even if I have to use a horse float I'll do it,'' Ms Noble said.

Bras can be left at the St Johns Op Shop, Maffra; Anglican Op Shop in Stratford or Heyfield, Collins book store in Sale and the Tinamba store.

Maffra Secondary College has also been collecting bras.

For more local information call Vanessa Noble on 5147 2023.