Money and muscle needed as floods flow into bushfire season

Non-stop demand and the upcoming bushfire season all mean that frontline response charities not only need donations but they need volunteers’. See how you can help.

Frontline community charities smashed by back-to-back years of natural disasters are begging fellow Aussies to donate not just money – but muscle.

“Unheard of” non-stop demand caused by fires and floods, combined with spiralling running costs and the coming bushfire season, means that grassroots response organisations are “screaming out for volunteers”, according to BlazeAid CEO Melissa Jones.

Flood recovery volunteer and BlazeAid Bridgewater camp co-ordinator Graeme Allen is pictured at Martin’s Tomatoes assessing the devastation. Picture: Jason Edwards

In a desperate call-out following the recent flooding, she urged volunteers to join the group’s restoration operations for “a day, a week, a month, whatever people can give”.

“You don’t have to have experience, you can learn on the job,” she added.

In Victoria’s Bridgewater region alone, 53 rural properties have already registered with the national charity after being inundated. More BlazeAid requests arrive daily from other flood-affected communities in Victoria, NSW and now Tasmania.

Tomato farmer Jeff Martin, pictured right, lost his entire crop in the floods. Mr Martin maintains the farm alone and has registered for some volunteer help, which will be overseen by BlazeAid Bridgewater camp co-ordinator Graeme Allen, pictured left. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms Jones said it was “absolutely crucial” for communities in need to make contact.

“It’s got to come from the community,” she said. “We have to be invited in, we can’t just go and set up.“

Five volunteer teams head out from the Bridgewater camp each day. They’ve completed 18 projects, another 32 are underway and the rest are waiting for floodwaters to subside.

“We’ll stay until the job’s done,” Ms Jones said.

Bridgewater farmer Jeff Martin’s whole livelihood went under. The torrent’s force destroyed his tomato crop, tractor, sheds and every hydroponic igloo “like a bomb”, leaving little but dead fish in his paddock.

The tomatoes were drowned underwater for two days and much of Mr Martin’s growing equipment was swept away. Picture: Jason Edwards

“The river came up and went through all the sheds,” Mr Martin said. “It smashed all the frames and plastics and it killed off (the tomatoes).

“They drowned, they were underwater for two days, and it’s done a hell of a lot of infrastructure (damage). The whole lot is dead, gone.

“It just looks like a bomb has hit it, really. It’s absolutely decimated.”

Mr Martin said of his tomato farm, “It just looks like a bomb has hit it”. Picture: Jason Edwards

The lifelong tomato farmer said he “couldn’t believe how fast the river came up”.

“I couldn’t keep in front of the water,” he said. “I was trying to protect the sheds, I was trying to build banks … but about seven feet of water went through them.

“BlazeAid couldn’t be more helpful in what they’ve been offering me.”

Despite his best efforts to save his sheds, Mr Martin said “about seven feet of water went through them.” Picture: Jason Edwards

Farm recovery often starts with fencing – and BlazeAid’s founding mission from the ashes of the 2009 Black Saturday fires fixed fences for purely practical reasons.

“Farmers that need to start earning an income again, to do that they need to be able to contain their stock or keep other stock out to grow crops,” Ms Jones said.

But often the fence “is just a metaphor for something a lot deeper”.

“It breathes a lot of hope, once the fences are up,” she said. “It’s often about starting. Just putting one post in the ground.”

Mr Martin worked with his father farming tomatoes until he took over when his dad retired. He runs the farm alone, with occasional help from his adult son and daughter. Picture: Jason Edwards

Around Australia, over 35,000 people have volunteered with BlazeAid since that first call out in Kilmore East after Black Saturday. To date, nearly 17,000km of fencing has been cleared and the same again rebuilt nationwide.

The organisation has evolved from erecting fence posts to also providing wellbeing support, including suicide prevention.

“There’s many a time farmers have said to me, ‘I was in a really bad state’,” Ms Jones said. “Just having volunteers come … they work shoulder to shoulder with the farmers, they bring jokes and have a good laugh together … and (farmers) feel like they can cope for the next day.”

Jeff Martin is pictured with part of the floodwater debris choking his tractor. Picture: Jason Edwards

With BlazeAid camps active for up to four months, flood assistance is flowing straight into bushfire season. Donations and volunteers are needed.

“We’re crying out,” Ms Jones said. And those unable to pitch in physically can still choose to help specific communities.

“Anyone who donates can direct their donation into a certain region, so every dollar we get is spent as the donor intended.”

News Corp Australia community ambassador Penny Fowler said “As a company we are proud to have supported BlazeAid”. Picture: David Caird

BlazeAid’s continued efforts are proudly sponsored by the Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch Foundation and corporate donors include News Corp Australia.

“We are inspired by the important help they give farmers to rebuild fences lost during the ongoing devastating floods and fires,” said News Corp Australia community ambassador Penny Fowler.

“We hope people will donate to BlazeAid so they can continue this vital service to support those in need.”

To donate, volunteer or to learn what is needed to get a BlazeAid camp out to help your community, please visit blazeaid.com.au