Agriculture
18 March, 2024
Farmers praise Blazeaid as Boort camp closes
DISTRICT farmers have lauded Blazeaid volunteers as fantastic and amazing after their work assisting to repair and replace fences damaged in the summer storm floods that hit the Loddon from Christmas Day. Korong Vale’s Murray Keller was among...
DISTRICT farmers have lauded Blazeaid volunteers as fantastic and amazing after their work assisting to repair and replace fences damaged in the summer storm floods that hit the Loddon from Christmas Day.
Korong Vale’s Murray Keller was among farmers who had volunteers based at Boort on the job over the last six weeks.
“These Blazeaid guys have been fantastic helping out many of our local farmers,” Mr Keller said. “They are a fantastic bunch of people.”
Mr Keller lost 1.5km of fencing in the floods, one of many farmers who saw more than 100km of fencing destroyed or damaged as record rainfalls hit the area.
“Volunteers moved to Boort in February after the Christmas floods and based themselves at Boort Park,” Mr Keller said
“In two months they have had 18 volunteers with two teams of four and two in the kitchen and one administrator.
“Over that time they have helped at eleven properties that registered with them for assistance all within the Loddon Shire.
“With the closing of the camp at Boort we only have four volunteers to finish a few jobs.
“Over their time in Boort they have cleaned, pulled down, rolled up and rebuilt fences, the tally for the Boort camp is 17km which is 8km cleared and 9km completed.”
Mr Keller said volunteers always had time for a chat to the farmers.
Blazeaid has since opened two more camps after last month’s fires in Western Victoria - one in Dadswells Bridge and the other at Buangor.
“The volunteers come from all over Australia and stay as long or short time as they like , most of them are retired and love getting out and about helping people. They are truly amazing,” he said.