Bill West
At the weekend, BlazeAid volunteer teams began the massive task of replacing/clearing up fencing damaged by severe flooding on properties along the Deep Creek, from Lancefield to Darraweit Guim.
Precisely how long the work will take is unpredictable at this stage, and there is a need for more volunteers to join the BlazeAid campaign.
Volunteerism has been very apparent in Macedon Ranges following storms and flooding in recent years.
Graeme Allen, a retired civil engineer from Woodend, is the project manager in charge of the Deep Creek campaign, with the BlazeAid base camp now established at the Rowallan Scout Camp in Riddells Creek.
Mr Allen has been working on BlazeAid projects since 2019, and recently completed two months in the Bridgewater area, which was also hit hard by flooding.
“There is a lot of damage to fences along the Deep Creek but not many landowners have sought assistance from us so far.”
He urged any landowners along the creek, between Lancefield and Darraweit Guim, to make contact if they have not already done so in cases where fencing has been damaged, or debris is still to be removed.
“We will be pleased to work with them to rebuild fences,” he said.
The first BlazeAid teams to tackle fencing replacement in the eastern part of the Macedon Ranges were busy on two properties not far from Romsey over the weekend.
Additional volunteers from Macedon Ranges, or further afield, will also be very welcome, irrespective of the amount of time they can devote to helping out.
Mr Allen can be contacted by phoning 0477 488 434.
BlazeAid volunteers come from far and wide, some are retired people who travel around Australia but stop to help when BlazeAid is working in particular areas.
The BlazeAid organisation grew from the ashes of Black Saturday, the disastrous and deadly fires of February 7, 2009.
The founders were Kilmore East farming couple, Kevin and Rhonda Butler.
Over the years the BlazeAid organisation, which relies on the generosity of donors to stay afloat, has spread Australia-wide. It has received widespread recognition from government and other authorities.
Volunteers can spent months working in disaster-affected areas helping individuals and families.
Along Deep Creek, some property owners have already carried out partial restoration works on flood-ravaged fencelines, but others simply have not had the time or means to tackle the task.
