Australasian Touring Caravan, Motorhome & Camping Club, Inc.

Everybody in Australia would be well aware of the terrible bushfires and destruction that went through the Mitchell region of Northern Victoria in February this year. Several towns were destroyed, 209 lives lost, hundreds of stock and thousands of kilometres of fencing gone. An Australia wide fund raising appeal was launched with a total around $300 million raised.

My partner and I were travelling through southern South Australia when we first heard a farmer, Kevin Butler speak to Macca (ABC Australia all over) talking about the loss of fencing in his region. Kevin was one of the farmers to lose fencing etc when the fire went through. Because of the assistance he received from friends and neighbouring farmers he reciprocated and soon many local people were volunteering to help the other farmers. From here Blaze Aid was created with Kevin and his wife Rhonda coordinating the volunteer program. Kevin mentioned the website and we wrote this down to look at later. A week later we sent off an email to the site seeking more details as we would like to volunteer. All the information and address was received and after honouring some previous commitments (a cousin's wedding in Ariah Park NSW) we  headed for Kilmore and arrived there 24/4/09.

We are now parked at Kevin's shearing shed on the outskirts of Kilmore East with about 15 Caravans and six Motorhomes. The work takes us to Kinglake, Strathewen, Saint Andrews, Flowerdale, Mt Disappointment and Wandong wherever fencing is required. The work can be very labour intensive and I have been using Shovels, Crowbars etc. Of the time here I have been assisting with straining fences and wiring. It is all hard work and I have learned a lot about digging and fencing. As the whole volunteer thing has grown we now have more equipment which includes tractors, fence hole diggers and generators.

When we went out to our first farm the damage was very confronting and upsetting. What you see on the TV programs does not show the whole effect and loss the farmers and townsfolk went through.

A lot of times you are working beside the farm owners and when they share their experiences you cannot help but admire their courage.

The atmosphere here is fantastic. Everybody wants to be here so the kindred spirit is high and everyone is motivated. Each day starts at 7.30am with a cooked breakfast of bacon, eggs, cereal, toast etc. Then at evenings from 4.30pm onwards (happy hour) a soup and sometimes a meal is served. There is a lot of fun and banter talking about the daily achievements. (Food all supplied by local groups)  Also many Farmers wives will drop in produce or cooked meals for the evening meals.

Parking is available on site with power from generators. Also showers and toilets are available. One of the Schools (Kilmore International School) provides one free dormitory (six rooms) plus some families billets the volunteers. The weekends are the busiest as a lot of people turn up for the day. There would be 60 people heading off on these mornings. Everything is very organised with proper processes to be followed.

It has now been over three months since the fire and we have had 2500 volunteers and the equivalent of 5400 volunteer days work and there is still so much to be done. The amount of damage to fences was quoted at approx 5,000 kilometres (although the Victorian Farmers Federation gave the figure of 15,000 kilometres) To date the repaired fences by the volunteers total 350 Kilometres!  As you can see there is a long way to go. Our biggest concern is the fires have been forgotten as time moves on and media coverage or awareness of the need is diminishing. It is estimated the fencing repairs will need another 18 months before completion.

What we are now asking is, lots of people to come and volunteer some of their time ( one day or one week or as much time as you can share with these people).  All you members out there travelling the country or thinking of going for a holiday, what about being a part of Blaze Aid. It is very rewarding and you meet some amazing people.

We have spent five weeks here with Blaze Aid and are surprised how quick it went. The whole thing has been so enjoyable and we now have a long list of volunteers that want us to visit them. We had a ball and so will you. The Blaze Aid website is: http://www.blazeaid.com/  Please give Kevin Butler a phone call  0418530471