Tradies band together to help rebuild communities razed by bushfires

Over 4000 tradespeople have signed up to help communities around Australia rebuild their bushfire destroyed homes for free.

A group of tradies are donating their skills to help re-build bushfire-ravaged communities. Picture: AFP

We’ve seen extensive fundraising initiatives to support people affected by bushfires, but a countrywide group of tradies plan to donate their skills and time rather than money.

The online group Tradies for Fire Affected Communities is a national platform for tradesmen and tradeswomen to sign up and offer their services to help rebuild homes and communities razed by bushfires.

A 31-year-old carpenter from Melbourne, Piers Smart, thought of the concept after his dad was camping near the Corryong fire in Victoria and made a narrow escape.

Post from Tradies for Fire Affected Communities Facebook page. Picture: Facebook

“I tried to get him out but he thought he would be right,” Mr Smart told The Australian.

“He got caught up in it but luckily made it out in the convoy. But it was a hairy day not being able to hear from him and watching the fire maps just surrounding the town.”

Mr Smart said the idea firmed up after he spoke to another friend who had her property razed near Cudgewa, to the west of Corryong in Victoria.

“Luckily she was fully insured and didn’t need the help. But then I thought, ‘Why not put it out there to everyone?’,” Mr Smart said.

Mr Smart had just moved house over Christmas thought the best way he could help was to mobilise Australia’s willing tradies who include plumbers, chippies, sparkies, excavators, asbestos removalists and arborists.

“I think with a Facebook group these things can start getting a bit out of hand or people can start losing interest,” Mr Smart said.

“So we have a website being built that will essentially be like Airtasker for fire relief.

“You will be able to flesh out your profile as a tradie, list your qualifications and talk about what you do, anything about your business and photos.”

Tradies are banding together to help rebuild bushfire affected communities. Picture: Facebook page.

Tradies will also be able to include how far they are willing to travel so people looking for help will be connected to people who can reach them.

Working with local trades, supporting builders who are employed by insurers and safety is important to Mr Smart to ensure any work completed is effective and helpful.

“It could be anything really – handyman work, rebuilds and possibly complete rebuilds. It really just depends on what people need and what they are willing to do,” Mr Smart said.

“We see ourselves massively as a support arm to insurance appointed builders or local tradies. We really don’t want to take away money from the local tradies, we really just want to be of support wherever we can.”

Mr Smart said for many people whose homes have been damaged or entirely destroyed, insurance could be an issue.

“If there is someone who is under insured, which is going to be a massive thing, if we can save the builder on wages then they can then pass that onto the homeowners, happy days.”

The group attracted over 9000 members on Facebook and over 4000 tradespeople have registered on their website in under two weeks since it started on 2 January.

The group is waiting until they can make sure building sites are safe, but they have organised a few hay runs and a tool drop last weekend to Buchan worth about $100,000.

“It’s heartwarming, I can’t even tell you. The page has been a beacon of open generosity and positivity.”

“Our group is made up of a beautiful bunch of legends,” the group Facebook page said.