June 25, 2013
Murgon’s BlazeAid camp has now officially closed and volunteers will begin returning home over the next few days.
“Heartfelt ‘thank yous’ have been given to the BlazeAid and local volunteers alike,” co-ordinator Paul Mortenson said today.
“However, out of the ashes of the 2009 Black Saturday fires a new group of super heroes emerged. These heroes are the unheralded volunteers who have helped Kevin Butler, the founder of BlazeAid, day in and day out since 2009.
“Based in the cold and wintery confines of Victoria, no one knows the extend of the involvement of Rhonda Butler and their children or of Lyn Bailey, our administrator.
“People in the base camps have never heard of Peter Appleton, the BlazeAid accountant, or Dick Patterson and Brian and Helena. We don’t even know their job titles or surnames in many cases.
“These volunteers do not see the smiles on the farmers’ faces or hear the stories of the volunteers at the end of a day’s work, yet they still work for the benefit of our farmers without reward or recognition.
“Without these super heroes BlazeAid would simply not exist.
“So, if anyone would like to make a donation to BlazeAid go to the donation tab at the website www.blazeaid.com
“And give a big thank you to our super heroes at the same time.”
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Final statistics from the Murgon Base Camp:
- Opened February 18, 2013 – Closed June 24, 2013.
- Farmers registered for help – 108
- Actual farms worked on – 88
- Fences cleared – 135km
- Fences repaired or replaced – 134km (total = 269km)
- Kilometres travelled from base/farms and return – approximately 28,000km (from Widgee to Durong to Sexton to Nanango to Stonelands to Booubyjan and everywhere in between)
- Total volunteers – 185
- Total volunteer days – 1903 (fencing days 1506)
- Evening meals prepared by the local community – approximately 2400
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