February 10, 2022
For the next four months a small group of volunteers will be toiling away for free to help farmers repair their fences and yards, damaged by the recent floods.
A BlazeAid camp has been set up at the Murgon Showgrounds under the careful watch of camp co-ordinator Ron “Spud” Murphy who is organising the volunteers, making sure they get fed, and registering requests for assistance.
Initially, the volunteers will be working in the Tansey and Booubyjan areas but farmers at Byee, Mondure, Moffatdale and Redgate have also approached Ron so the work will eventually spread into these areas as well.
When southburnett.com.au dropped into the South Burnett PCYC on Wednesday evening, we found 18 volunteers, many of whom had just had a shower after labouring under the hot sun all day.
The number of volunteers at the camp rises and falls, as people (often grey nomads) drop by for a short stay.
However, Ron said there was a core group who would be with him for the whole time.
It’s an early start for the workers, who muster each morning about 6:30am before heading off to their assigned farms.
They have been at it now for less than a fortnight but have already cleared debris from about 12km of fences and rebuilt another 8km of fencing.
They are currently working on eight farms, but 45 have registered for assistance.
BlazeAid is a completely voluntary organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods.
They have visited the South Burnett before – in fact, this is the fifth time a BlazeAid camp has been set up in the region.
“The effort the guys – and women – have been putting in at the moment is unbelievable,” Ron said, but more volunteers were always needed.
“Can you give us a day, a week, a month? Anything is appreciated,” he said.
“We also need financial donations, or food, even bottles of water, fruit, watermelons etc; no matter how small or large to help these volunteers, it is much appreciated.”
BlazeAid has also set up accounts at Murgon SupaIGA, Nutrien Ag Solutions in Murgon and Nedloh Rural in Goomeri where people can donate money to help BlazeAid.
The SupaIGA donations will be used to buy food while the rural stores are for wire and other farming parts.
“Just walk in and give them the money for BlazeAid; that would be awesome,” Ron said.
“Tell all your friends! We are trying to keep as much money as possible in the local community.”
Donations have also come from other sources. The group has received two individual donations of $300, $5000 from the South Burnett Regional Council, $1000 from the Proston Lions Club and $150 from the Kingaroy Men’s Shed.
Kingaroy Rotary also donated many bottles of water, which have come in handy out in the paddocks.
“But fuel is our biggest killer at the moment,” Ron said.
“If there is a fuel distributor in the region who wants to donate some fuel, it would be much appreciated!”
You would think that working in Murgon co-ordinating volunteers on 45 farms would be enough to keep Ron busy, but he is also “advising” two other BlazeAid camps at Woolooga and Biggenden set up after the recent floods.
When a farmer registers for assistance, Ron goes out and inspects what needs to be done before adding them to the list.
BlazeAid have pre-packed trailers which they take out to the farms, filled with items such as chainsaws, wire cutters, pliers etc.
But Ron – who has been with BlazeAid since for nearly 11 years – was especially full of praise for one of his volunteers, Lawrie Schache, from Ballina, who turned up with his own tractor and attachments.
“It has made a huge difference,” Ron said.
Lawrie, who turned 74 on Tuesday, has been working alongside Ron at BlazeAid camps since 2019.
Local businessman Leo Geraghty and local councillor Kathy Duff are responsible for bringing the BlazeAid camp to Murgon.
“Kathy and I had to get eight names to start a camp,” Leo said.
“We got 40.”
Leo said it was amazing the amount of work a crew of four volunteers – plus the farmer – could achieve in one day.
“It must make the farmers happier,” he said. “Mentally, the flood must have affected them so much.”
He knew farmers who had lost all their calves, ie. their year’s income, while others had lost stud cattle.
The farmers have shown their gratitude. Some have dropped in cartons of beer, bottles of wine, pumpkins, lettuce and even biscuits to the BlazeAid volunteers at the PCYC.
On Wednesday night, the workers were going to enjoy pizzas for tea, after another local donation.
People who would like to volunteer to work on local properties, support the BlazeAid camp with donations, or register their property for assistance should contact Ron Murphy on 0447-806-251 or Leo Geraghty on 0429-024-041.
(Photo: Supplied)
