FARMERS in Mirboo North and surrounds have one less thing to worry about after February’s mega storm thanks to BlazeAid volunteers repairing boundary fencing, and the Sentinel-Times met one of the organisation’s friendly teams on Tuesday at the Mirboo North farm of Emma Joy.
In contrast to bushfire damage where vegetation and fences are often obliterated, the storm impact has left a substantial tidy up effort with volunteers having to cut fallen trees and branches down to size and remove them from the fence line before fence repairs or replacement can occur.
Loch Sport’s Gordon Arnel and Iain Batten of the Gold Coast were busy with their chainsaws during Tuesday’s visit, with other BlazeAid volunteers helping in the clearing operation.
Gordon spoke of the importance of taking some pressure off farmers and making their paddocks secure for livestock.
He said the work also provides a sense of fulfillment for the volunteers.
Gordon’s wife Lyn and Iain’s wife Jo were also part of Tuesday’s team, the Gold Coast pair helping during a year of travel, with Jo saying they have plenty of time.
Young Dubliner Dylan Lowther was another member of the crew, having been with BlazeAid for just a week and currently based in Melbourne after six months in Australia.
He discovered the organisation while searching for somewhere to undertake his 88 days of regional work, which will allow him to get an extension on his Working Holiday Visa.
BlazeAid caught Dylan’s eye on Facebook before he realised the work is on a voluntary basis.
“I did some research into it and learnt about the great work they do and I thought, gosh that’s a great opportunity to come out and see a whole other side of the place to the hustle and bustle of Melbourne and help farmers who had a tough time recently when they were hit by the storm,” Dylan said.
Married BlazeAid coordinators Karen and Greg Noble, who are currently training a new coordinator at the organisation’s Yinnar camp paid a visit to Emma’s farm to meet this scribe.
The Maffra-based pair are former dairy farmers and have been volunteering with BlazeAid since 2020.
“I knew how to fence and I saw what BlazeAid had done while I was working and I thought once I’ve got time I’ll get into it and help others,” Greg said.
The camaraderie between the volunteers at Emma’s farm was apparent, with Karen observing that is a common occurrence.
“They have to work together; they don’t have to like each other but generally do,” she said.
BlazeAid was established after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires by Kilmore East farmers Kevin and Rhonda Butler.
They had approximately three kilometres of fencing burnt on their property allowing hundreds of sheep to get onto the roads.
Kevin put an advertisement in the local paper requesting assistance, with about 25 volunteers coming to help and the fences rebuilt within a week.
That response prompted Rhonda to create BlazeAid to help others, the organisation’s volunteers initially working out of the couple’s shearing shed while rebuilding destroyed fences in the region.
The organisation now establishes camps, with volunteers provided with free accommodation and meals.
Running camps, providing necessary equipment to carry out clearing and fencing and maintenance all incur considerable costs, with running a camp roughly $5000 per week.
Those keen to help BlazeAid meet its costs can visit blazeaid.com.au/donate with the organisation’s website also providing information for those considering volunteering as BlazeAiders.
