When disaster strikes, it leaves behind more than just physical destruction. It shatters lives, breaks spirits, and leaves a lasting impact on the community. But amidst this devastation, BlazeAid volunteers step in, working tirelessly alongside rural families to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.
But BlazeAid’s work goes beyond just physical rebuilding. It’s about mending broken spirits, reigniting hope, and helping communities rise from the ... Read More
When disaster strikes, it leaves behind more than just physical destruction. It shatters lives, breaks spirits, and leaves a lasting impact on the community. But amidst this devastation, BlazeAid volunteers step in, working tirelessly alongside rural families to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.
But BlazeAid’s work goes beyond just physical rebuilding. It’s about mending broken spirits, reigniting hope, and helping communities rise from the ashes stronger than before. They provide not only manpower but also a sense of community and camaraderie.
BlazeAid was established in 2009 by Kevin and Rhonda Butler after the Black Saturday bushfires. They had approximately 3 kilometres of fencing burnt on their property, allowing hundreds of sheep to get out onto the roads, causing a traffic hazard and impeding fire trucks and other emergency service vehicles from continuing their response to the fires.
The repairs to their fences were expected to have taken the Butlers around 3 to 4 months, however, Kevin put an advert in the local paper requesting assistance. He had a wonderful response from the community, with around 25 volunteers coming to help, and the fences were rebuilt within a week. It was Rhonda’s idea to pay the favour forward, saying, “We have had help, now let’s give our neighbours a hand too.” And thus, BlazeAid was born.
During the first year, volunteers worked out of the Butler’s shearing shed, their farm becoming somewhat of a tent city filled with people and their vans from all over the country (and the world). The camp ran for 11 months, where they cleared 500 kilometres of burnt fences and rebuilt an additional 500 kilometres.
BlazeAid offer a site for volunteers’ Caravans, Motorhomes, Tents etc. with power and water, toilets & hot showers, all meals, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for their volunteers. Volunteers need no experience, they can learn fencing skills on the job.
BlazeAid has responded to natural disasters every year since 2009. It costs around $5,000 per week to run a basecamp. All money spent to feed volunteers 3 meals per day, maintain assets such as vehicles and replace tools, goes back into the local community.
During the 2019/20 mega fires, BlazeAid set up 45 camps around the country to help rebuild. In many areas, the fires were so intense that they scorched the ground so significantly that native grasses and perennials were unable to grow. BlazeAid successfully trialled a project as part of the rebuild called the Grass-seeds Re-establishment After Fires Funding Initiative (GRAFFI), teaching and supplying farmers with native trees and grasses to regenerate their lands and assist in the future prevention of erosion.
In conclusion, BlazeAid is more than just an organization; it’s a movement of kindness, resilience, and community spirit. It represents the very best of what we can achieve when we come together in times of adversity.
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