BlazeAid ready to ramp up its recovery efforts again
BlazeAid is slowly welcoming back volunteers to assist the bushfire rebuild, which will now take longer than expected, after cutting down its workforce to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
DISASTER-aid charity BlazeAid will begin welcoming volunteers back to assist the bushfire rebuild this week, after dropping its workforce by about 80 per cent to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
BlazeAid co-founder Kevin Butler said he had hoped the charity would have rebuilt most Victorian farmers’ fences that had been destroyed by the summer’s fires by the end of June, but the recovery effort could now stretch out to the end of the year.
The charity managed to keep most towns’ base camps open to continue its work but significantly cut down on volunteers.
BlazeAid had about 1500-2000 volunteers building fences across the country in early March, and now only has about 300 volunteers.
“The farmers have been ecstatic BlazeAid has kept on going,” Mr Butler said.
“For farmers, COVID-19 doesn’t concern us much because we are in isolation anyway.”
BlazeAid will begin welcoming back its more experienced volunteers this week, and hopes to soon host backpackers again – who Mr Butler call “international rockstars”.
All BlazeAid volunteers will be required to download the Federal Government’s new coronavirus tracking app, once it launches, and abide by strict social distancing measures already in place.
Mr Butler said there were plenty of farmers who still needed help – including about 50 at Buchan, 25 at Wulgulmerang and 70 at Bruthen, in Victoria alone – but is still calling on farmers to put their hands up for help.
“Farmers still see fences laying down everywhere where fires hit and they want them put up again,” he said.
“We’ve got to get them productive again. If you haven’t got a fence, you haven’t got a farm.”
Mr Butler is calling for 4WD vehicles to loan, so volunteers can get themselves and materials to jobs and keep their distance from farmers.
MORE
BLAZEAID STEPS UP FOR BIGGEST REPAIR MISSION
‘No one knew it was coming’: Tongala cow abattoir shuts
The livestock industry and local community have reacted to Greenham’s closure of its Tongala cow processing plant.
Victorians want to feel guilt-free about eating meat
Research – to guide a Victorian Government-funded pro-agriculture campaign – has revealed how consumers feel about the state’s farmers and what issues need to be addressed.