Goomalibee CFA firefighters Marty Burke and Murray Chapman were still on the fire ground on January 7, dousing smouldering hot spots.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
An army of volunteers has descended on the small farming community of Goomalibee, west of Benalla, following a pre-Christmas fire that swept through farmland.
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The 1600-hectare fire claimed one house, several sheds and burnt out kilometres of fencing on the now blackened grazing country.
Benalla Lions Club member Peter Poels and president Peter Brown.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Blaze Aid, an organisation that marshals volunteers to help in natural disaster recovery, has arrived at the invitation of community leaders and set up camp around the Goomalibee Fire Station.
Dozens of volunteers from all over Australia are expected to descend on the tent town, to clear debris, clear fence lines and replace the fences.
Some of the Blaze Aid volunteers pictured at work, repairing fences and clearing fallen trees at Goomalibee.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Volunteers provide the free labour (seven days a week) and materials are provided by the land owner or through donations.
Camp co-ordinator Debra Ong said the welcome and support from the local community for the volunteers was “unbelievable”.
“It’s the best I have ever seen,” she said.
“We have people offered to do laundry, provide food and generators. We have even had offers of a nearby swimming pool.
The Blaze Aid camp set up around the Goomalibee fire station.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“Two of our cars broke down and I put out a call for help on Facebook. We had a mechanic offer to help within half an hour.”
The 50 volunteers who have registered to help include two overseas backpackers who can earn credit to extend their visas by volunteering.
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