Western Downs community Tara rallies and provides ‘resilience’ after devastating bushfires

From donating new school uniforms to collecting animal supplies for threatened livestock, Tara residents have banded together following recent bushfire disaster, proving their ‘resilience’ and dispelling what they claim is a ‘wrongly portrayed’ reputation.

The small town of Tara, located 69km south of Chinchilla and a part of the Western Downs region, was once known simply for being a small country town, the home of the camel races or perhaps not known at all, according to the locals.

On December 12, 2022 the reputation of the small country town would change for the worst, after a family of three gunned down two police officers and a civilian on their Wieambilla property, 35km north of Tara’s town centre.

Following the horrific event, 35 days later the main strip of Tara’s centre was shut down when four teens allegedly fired off multiple gun rounds, damaging cars and causing a lockdown of the town for several hours.

In the past few weeks, Tara has had to face numerous fires that have threatened livelihoods and on Sunday, February 12, people were forced out of homes due to the thousands of hectares of land catching on fire.

When residents evacuated their Wieambilla and Montrose homes, some sought out food by pouring into the Tara cafe.

Employee of the cafe and treasurer of the Tara State School’s P&C committee Brooke Haddy said the fires were the last thing the community needed.

The Rural Fire Service battling bushfires at Tara, Queensland. Photo: Steve Whitehouse.

The mother of five told News Corp that the evening of the most recent fire was a “horrible” event to witness.

“People had just lost everything and were trying to feed their kids, it was a big and emotional night to see so many people,” she said.

The Tara resident said her community had already been through so much.

“We have a bad reputation going around and now people not only figuratively have lost things but literally as well,” she said.

“We used to be just another little country town, and had a reputation for being able to support each other and were willing to help out.

“It’s important for us to try and gain that back again so people realise we’re not a town full of criminals, bad things don’t just happen here because we’re all crazy.”

If the recent fire has shown anything, it’s that Tara rallies, and has proven to be resilient during times of tragedy and devastation, once again.

School supplies for children who have lost it all

Bushland completely burnt along Billabong Lane, Tara. February 15, 2023. Picture: Emily Devon

Tara State School P&C treasurer, Ms Haddy and president Rebecca Glover began donating new school uniforms and school supplies to the children impacted by the recent fire.

“There are a lot of big families out here who are on properties that have been impacted,” Mrs Glover said.

“I have three kids and I’m in the minority.”

The pair said that donating uniforms felt like the least they could do in such harrowing times.

“The price of uniforms is very expensive especially for larger families,” Ms Haddy said.

“Families have lost everything, the least we can do is offer a uniform and make the change a bit easier for kids who have already lost their houses and god knows what else.

“Now they don’t have to worry about going to school and not having the right thing to wear.”

President of Tara School's P&C Rebecca Glover and the treasurer, Brooke Haddy. Picture: Emily Devon

The school’s P&C, along with Foodworks and other community members, have also had a hand in collecting food items for hampers for impacted families to collect at drop off locations around town.

They said many families were living in a motel at the moment, and could only use microwavable food items.

“We know families who have been affected and our kids go to school with their kids, it’s sad that our kids’ friends are missing out and have lost things,” Mrs Glover said.

The pair discussed their adoration for the town and goal for people outside to realise the town is much more than what it’s made the news for in recent times.

“I can let my kids ride down the street and not worry about strangers, we do feel safe, we’re happy to be here,” they said.

A miracle on Billabong Lane

The Billabong Ln property caught fire on Sunday, February 12 2023. Picture: contributed/Michelle Cullen

Wieambilla resident Michelle Cullen, who had spent the past few years building a new kitchen, cupboards and a bedroom so she could attach a shipping container to her cabin on Billabong Lane, was devastated when she had to evacuate her home because of the fire on Sunday.

“I’ve lost thousands of dollars worth of stuff that I cannot replace,” she said.

“It’s a big hit that I’m not going to be able to recover from.”

Despite the devastating blow, the woman spoke admirably about the local fireys who saved what they could after she had been evacuated.

When Ms Cullen arrived back at her property, which she named ‘Harmony’, she thought a miracle had occurred, as her cabin was completely intact.

“I told everyone ‘it’s a miracle’, everything is burnt around the cabin but it’s like this bubble has protected it as well as fair bit of the garden, the dog pen and the water tank,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe it was still standing, I said it was like angels had saved it, how the hell did it survive?”

The Billabong Ln property caught fire on Sunday, February 12 2023. Picture: contributed/Michelle Cullen

The following day, Ms Cullen said one of the fireys named ‘Matt’ arrived at her home to check on everything, and told her that he had arrived to her property while it was on fire and did what he could to protect the cabin.

“When Matt turned up on Sunday (he said) he found the shipping container on fire with everything in it and he slammed the door shut so nothing could come out and he kicked over all the solar panels I had that were ready for the roof so they couldn’t explode,” she said.

“He also hosed down the area.”

After learning what Matt and the other fireys had done, Ms Cullen realised they had been her angels.

She said the community spirit was partly why she moved to the area in the first place.

“Everyone’s so kind, it’s just a really good community that does rally together,” she said.

Matt and Buddy from the local Wieambilla Rural Fire Service came to the aid of Michelle Cullen's property when it caught on fire, Sunday February 12 2023. Picture: Michelle Cullen

“There’s been a lot of negative press, and I’m not blaming the press. I know it’s had a reputation in the past, but it really is a beautiful community.”

The woman reflected on the police massacre in December and the way it emotionally moved their town.

“We were absolutely devastated,” she said.

“They were our police officers and we were devastated.

“There were some really negative things said and I thought, people just don’t know the people here and what they’re really like.

“You find a lot of beautiful, kind hearted people out here a lot.”

Collecting supplies for threatened livestock

David Gunther, the owner of Tara Rural Supplies, he is collecting supplies from community members and donating them to those impacted – Photo Emily Devon

From the second that people were evacuated from their homes, Tara Rural Supplies owner David Gunther began collecting animal supplies for people whose animals had been impacted by the fires.

“It seems like every fortnight we have to make the news,” he said.

“It’s devastating.

“We’re trying to help out anyone with animals and their livestock, as once they get home they’re going to need food because they won’t have any grass or anything like that.”

Mr Gunther spoke of the great importance that animals play within their community.

“Their pets and livestock are their life, they regard them as family, it’s their world,” he said.

The store owner who had grown up in Tara his whole life, and bought the business 20 years ago, spoke highly of his community and its spirit.

“It’s a great place to live, and not everyone portrays it that way,” he said.

“A lot of the public have been donating pet food, and ringing and asking what they can donate but a lot of people haven’t gone back to their properties yet to know what they need.

“People needed budgie cages, so some of our staff went home and grabbed their own so people had a way to transport birds.”

He said he and other community members simply wanted to take the pressure off those in trying times, by helping out with the livestock needs.

“Tara bands together, we’re really resilient and everyone here is doing the best they can.”

Smoke spreads through the sky as an aircraft contains the blaze on Billabong Lane, Tara. Picture: contributed/Michelle Cullen

While the people of Tara have gone from strength to strength, it hasn’t stopped the fact that an arsonist remains on the loose in the region, and has been the trigger for these devastating fires that have changed the course of many of their lives.

Not only does a fire bug remain walking freely, but as Queensland Rural Fire Service South West Regional Manager, Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl said on Thursday afternoon, the level of fire danger that looms over the region will not decrease until well into March.

He recommended that residents remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings during this fire ban.

Originally published as Western Downs community Tara rallies and provides ‘resilience’ after devastating bushfires