Blazeaid volunteering.

Blazeaid started after the Victorian bush fires to help rebuild fences but has now extended to other states to help farmers after natural disasters. Qld has a few camps set up to help repair loos damage. Funding comes from local communities in the form of cash donations or plant & equipment.

Day two coming to an end working for Blazeaid at Mundubbera, arms scratched, backs aching but some how we had a good day.

We spent yesterday on a mandarin orchard 20km out of town cleaning debris out of the trees. A long monotonous day pulling grass embedded in mud off branches, tree after tree, however the feeling at the end of day was good. The farm belongs to a family of four, mum, dad, daughter & a disabled wheelchair bound son. Dad has had to go to the mines to make ends meet & mum is running the house & trying to keep the farm going with little infrastructure in place. Their home was built 20 yrs ago 2 mts above the 43 big flood level. 1/2 mt of water went through their house but Sandy kept telling us how lucky they are as their machinery shed didn't wash away.

Today we were in a market garden on the river in town. The farmer, Don, looked at us as we tumbled out of the vehicles & said "I thought I was getting fencers & a plumber?". Well he had five women aged between 60 & 70, Tony & a plumber. At the end of the day he had a paddock cleared of debris from the barb wire fence, the wrecked tomato trellises demolished, wire rolled & stacked, irrigation pipe pulled up rolled & stacked, star pickets removed & stacked, mandarin trees pruned underneath off the ground & a water pump ready for firing up tomorrow. We had one happy farmer.

Two of the camp organisers

Can't finish this blog without mentioning the food. Wow! Are we well fed??? I thought this would be a good workout (which it is) but after the country farming families finish feeding us at the end of the day we have been served up the most delicious meals including desserts of mango cheesecake, Black Forest cake, sticky date pudding with custard, ice cream etc. we ve had Shepherds Pie, Chicken & Fred rice & tonight the bet meatballs ever, with very creamy potato bake, curried mix veg, minted carrot & fresh steamed beans. A few men are here on there second trip but I think they are lured by the food not the volunteering.

Tony having fun on the quad bike.

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Flood debris in the barbwire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The peaceful river .

 

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