20180410 VIC Terang BlazeAid
20180410 Well we’re committed now, Des has kindly put our names down to work as volunteer at BlazeAid, what has he got me into this time. BlazeAid is a volunteer group who support rural communities in Australia affected by natural disaster. The fires had a devastating effect on Terang and neighbouring districts destroying everything in its path and the stories you here certainly brings tears to your eyes, it’s not just there home that are destroyed but there lively hood is stripped from them.
A family with five children who started out with nothing, built his farm up from the ground only to have it stripped away by fire and to add to their disaster he couldn’t afford insurance so he lost everything but with the support of the community he was set up in a home.
Check out how the fire twisted and melted the steel in this shed.
12-04-2018 Another day of fencing with a new team, as one lot of volunteers leaves more arrive and we meet our new team members. The farmer from this property told us he has four properties and the fire had gone through three of them loosing many of his fences, and the appreciation he showed us was over whelming.
The boys hard at it ramming the post in as the rest of us mark out the new post and nail in the insulators to run the wires, and we were right up their arse.
You can see where the fire burnt along the fence but thanks to the Blazeaid volunteer's a new fence is now in place, another successful day completed.
15-04-2018 We woke to a drizzly day but that doesn't stop the horses from putting on a show, the racing track is commonly known as the Flemington of the bush due to the spacious track designed by the same designer of the Flemington track.
Des and I have never been involved in anything like BlazeAid before and I have to say, what an amazing and worthy organization, but it's not just the volunteers from BlazeAid that make this all possible it's also the communities that rally together in support of their fellow neighbours.
A family with five children who started out with nothing, built his farm up from the ground only to have it stripped away by fire and to add to their disaster he couldn’t afford insurance so he lost everything but with the support of the community he was set up in a home.
11-04-2018 The alarm went off at 6 am and I drag myself out of bed, am I really doing this I thought to myself, yep it looks like I am. We order our bacon and eggs then head inside the tea room to make our lunch. As we don't have a car Mal, our BlazeAid organiser has to find someone with a spare seat to drive us to the work site.
Our first day on the job and our task was to roll up the burnt out wire and place into stacks to be picked up.
Our team stops for a well deserved smoko break.
Some of the devastation brought on by the distraction of the fires.
With one area completed we are moved onto a new location, I'm with you as I hop into the little buggy with the farmers Dad.
The farmer didn't loose just his shed but all the hay that was stored in it, but at least he had insurance for the shed but unfortunately not the hay.
Some of the devastation brought on by the distraction of the fires.
Check out how the fire twisted and melted the steel in this shed.
What the hell are all these bloody tyres?
Well! this is what I found out.
It's called Haylage and its produced by chopping hay at a high moisture level and sealing it air tight to allow fermentation to occur.
The hay is dumped in a pile then the tractors sculpt and pack the feed so as to prevent mould and spoilage, it is then covered with a sheet of white plastic with an oxygen barrier and then tyres. In the absence of oxygen, the feed ferments and mould growth is kept to a minimum.
Meet our BlazeAid team for the day but we've lost our team leader.
Our first day done and dusted and here I was laughing at the dirt on Barb's face then she said I didn't look much better, you can tell who did the most work.
Every morning Pete would be at the BBQ ready to take our breakfast orders then in the evenings he rang the bell around six, dinners up.
Every night the ladies and gentlemen from all around the district take it in turns to prepare dinner for all the BlazeAide volunteers and OMG what a feast they put on. Tonight was casserole night with about half a dozen different one's to choose from then to top it off there were at least six or more different deserts, and I have to say most people went back for seconds.
Me after our dinner at Blazeaid
I'm Not Fat... I'm Just Bloated
Duck Award
Now be very cautious for you may get caught out as Mel has big ears and is on alert for any mishaps.
The hay is dumped in a pile then the tractors sculpt and pack the feed so as to prevent mould and spoilage, it is then covered with a sheet of white plastic with an oxygen barrier and then tyres. In the absence of oxygen, the feed ferments and mould growth is kept to a minimum.
Every night the ladies and gentlemen from all around the district take it in turns to prepare dinner for all the BlazeAide volunteers and OMG what a feast they put on. Tonight was casserole night with about half a dozen different one's to choose from then to top it off there were at least six or more different deserts, and I have to say most people went back for seconds.
I'm Not Fat... I'm Just Bloated
Now be very cautious for you may get caught out as Mel has big ears and is on alert for any mishaps.
12-04-2018 Another day of fencing with a new team, as one lot of volunteers leaves more arrive and we meet our new team members. The farmer from this property told us he has four properties and the fire had gone through three of them loosing many of his fences, and the appreciation he showed us was over whelming.
The boys hard at it ramming the post in as the rest of us mark out the new post and nail in the insulators to run the wires, and we were right up their arse.
Jack told me I need to slow down, no, I said, you need to speed up, would you like to take over said Bob, Ooo, we have a cheeky one here.
You can see where the fire burnt along the fence but thanks to the Blazeaid volunteer's a new fence is now in place, another successful day completed.
13-04-2018 With the weather turning shitty theirs no work and with the big race day on Sunday all the campers have to more outside the grounds, lucky for Des and I we couldn't fit through the gates so we didn't have to move.
Blazeaid have taken up residents at the local race course where we are offered free camping along with hot showers, a washing machine and all your meals supplied, now you can't beat that.
The complete Blazeaid team were invited out on Saturday night for dinner complements of this amazing team from the Bowels club and they certainly know how to put on a spread, thank you all so much from the Blazeaid volunteers.
15-04-2018 We woke to a drizzly day but that doesn't stop the horses from putting on a show, the racing track is commonly known as the Flemington of the bush due to the spacious track designed by the same designer of the Flemington track.
Yep that's me, with my Champagne in one hand and hopefully the winning ticket in the other, don't ya just love how Des cuts off my legs.😠
See the 2nd last horse with the pretty pink colors, well! that's Desie's, that's what he gets for cutting off my legs.
😊😅😁
This arrived today, more donations to help the farmers and trust me it doesn't stop there, I have never witnessed such a caring bond with the surrounding communities.
17-04-2018 Ara well, it's time to go back to work, the rain has eased and the alarm is blasting as I drag myself from my cosy bed in our little cubby house.
Des under training learning to tie off post but check out Mark our lustres team leader observing, don't you think he resembles Jesus with a walking staff, all he needs is the long hair.
See the 2nd last horse with the pretty pink colors, well! that's Desie's, that's what he gets for cutting off my legs.😊😅😁
This arrived today, more donations to help the farmers and trust me it doesn't stop there, I have never witnessed such a caring bond with the surrounding communities.
17-04-2018 Ara well, it's time to go back to work, the rain has eased and the alarm is blasting as I drag myself from my cosy bed in our little cubby house.
Our team for the day, Ken, me (Leonie), Mark our team leader and Des (aleus, killer), or he will be after he finds out I put that up.
That would be me, this stumps sure did take a stumble after the fire ravished this farm.
While the boys are hard at it I take the opportunity to sneak in a few photos.
Des under training learning to tie off post but check out Mark our lustres team leader observing, don't you think he resembles Jesus with a walking staff, all he needs is the long hair.
Now it's your turn Des, yep that's right twist one that way and the other the opposite way, well done, by gee’s I think you got it old boy.
The burnt out creek beside the farm we were fencing, they were lucky the fire didn't jump the creek.
Our job was to run this new wires from the top where the fire hit down to the corner and across, another job done and dusted.
Caught out again by our bloody team leader, Mark, he's on to us.
With another days work completed Ken stopped while I check out the many very cute newly born calves, after only one day they are taken away from there Mum and they seem quite contented.
How good is this, after work we are spoiled with an amazing massage thanks
to these lovely students.
I'm not real sure about Des though I'm pretty sure he's never had one before today.
After every meal it's up to you to clean your dishes, there are three bath tubs set up.
1.Remove the main waste.
2. Wash your items.
3. Rinse your items.
4. Dry and put away.
And while your at it chat up the person next to you.
And don't forget to have a good laugh while your at it, now that I can do.
This would be Jo aye, he put shit on us for putting aye after every sentence, aye Jo.
This is Ken we worked with him one day and Ken and I cracked up laughing all day and no he isn't gay he just looks it, aye Ken
This is by far one of the most rewarding and fun experiences Des and I have had this trip, apart from putting on a few kilos thanks to the amazing food provided by the many support groups in and around Terang but also the wonderful people we meet and the many laughs we all shared.
Our job was to run this new wires from the top where the fire hit down to the corner and across, another job done and dusted.
With another days work completed Ken stopped while I check out the many very cute newly born calves, after only one day they are taken away from there Mum and they seem quite contented.
I'm not real sure about Des though I'm pretty sure he's never had one before today.
Our last dinner at BlazeAid and Mel gives us a real wrap calling us the whingibago's with no car, only because he had to find someone we could hitch a ride with to the farms, trouble they are as he gifts us with a BlazeAid shirt each and a big grin on his face.
1.Remove the main waste.
2. Wash your items.
3. Rinse your items.
4. Dry and put away.
And while your at it chat up the person next to you.
And don't forget to have a good laugh while your at it, now that I can do.
This is by far one of the most rewarding and fun experiences Des and I have had this trip, apart from putting on a few kilos thanks to the amazing food provided by the many support groups in and around Terang but also the wonderful people we meet and the many laughs we all shared.
THANK YOU BLAZEAID WE WILL BE BACK
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