The emphasis has quickly shifted to the recovery phase after wild grass fires torched around 40,000 hectares around Garvoc, Terang and Hawkesdale last weekend.
A number of fires started on Saturday evening and were fanned by strong winds.
Fodder, animal welfare, fencing and access to counselling for affected families and farms in the South West are now being made available.
United Dairyfarmers of Victoria Wannon branch’s Chris O’Keefe said the generous farming community was already making offers of support for fodder and short-term agistment.
The Victorian Farmers Federation is coordinating fodder relief for affected farmers.
“First and foremost, we need farmers, their families and their workers to think of safety and seek support”, VFF president David Jochinke said.
“Anyone with good quality fodder to donate should contact the VFF on 1300 882 833 to register.
“We also want to hear from farmers who need fodder so we can coordinate immediate distribution.”
The VFF has an agreement with the Victorian Government to facilitate the fodder relief.
This includes reimbursement of freight costs for transport of donated fodder.
Counselling
The Rural Financial Counselling Service is available for immediate assistance and can be contacted on 1300 735 578 (24-hour hotline).
Fencing and recovery
BlazeAid president Kevin Butler has hundreds of volunteers ready to descend on the affected region to aid in fencing restoration and recovery.
Already three base sites have been identified – at Cobden, Terang and Macarthur.
Mr Butler said the bases would be operating by Monday.
He said the bases were essential for volunteers and the almost $400,000 worth of equipment being moved to the area.
The response from individuals and communities around the South West and across the state had been “gigantic”.
“We went direct to the community,” Mr Butler said.
He said BlazeAid was establishing a fence post and wire drive that would enable donations to be made to a trust account within BlazeAid.
The funds would then be made available to farmers in vouchers that could be redeemed for materials.
Contact details
UDV help page: https://www.facebook.com/FarmerSWFireSupport/
BlazeAid: http://blazeaid.com.au/
VFF help: www.vff.org.au/support or 1300 882 833
