Article originally published December 2019 when these areas were hit hard by bushfires. Now 2022 we see floods in some of the same areas.
After the Bushfires
Helping Out at Casino and BlazeAid Recovery
I think that most of the world has seen the recent (and at time of writing, current) fires in New South Wales, Queensland and now South Australia – loss of life, stock and property fills social media and news headlines.
Travelling through NSW days before the bushfires
Having driven along the Clarence Way (NSW) from Tabulam to Busbys Flat, Camira Creek and Whiporie only days before the fires in this area, I knew how dry the area was and how rural and somewhat remote it was. Check out my Trip Itinerary for Koreelah to Jackadgery.
Helping after the fires
So, I turned to my wife and said – “I’m off to help out in some way”. I was met with immediate approval – which was good as she is also my Minister for Finance and War – and said that, if I didn’t she was about to give a donation. Next to people, the plight of animals has always been her strength. Helping after the bushfires – important to both of us.
So, I turned to my wife and said – “I’m off to help out in some way”. I was met with immediate approval – which was good as she is also my Minister for Finance and War – and said that, if I didn’t she was about to give a donation. Next to people, the plight of animals has always been her strength.
BlazeAid
I knew that BlazeAid (a somewhat small organisation based in Victoria) had risen from the ashes of the Black Saturday Bushfires in Victoria in 2009 and I’ve been following them for some time on social media (@blazeaid) and through their website (www.blazeaid.com.au).
So, when I heard that a BlazeAid camp was being set up at the Casino Showgrounds, I knew that that was where I’d be headed.
After a tragedy you can help
My next task was to check with Kevin Butler (Founder and President of BlazeAid) to see where and when I might be needed and he confirmed that I ought to check with the Casio Co-ordinator, Ron – who, in turn, said ‘Yes’ and ‘Now’.
I don’t know about you, but I had no idea how this volunteer stuff was done, how I’d be welcomed, what skills I needed or even how it all worked. I just knew that I wanted to do something for those that needed some help and to let them know that us city-slickers did in fact know that they’re there.
The Trip South (for me)
After packing the camper and kissing the Honourable Minister goodbye, I was off – heading towards Warwick, Stanthorpe and Tenterfield, and then on to Casino – or, so I thought…
You see, the Cunningham Highway was closed at Aratula. Yes, there were signs on the Ipswich Motorway, but I drive that road so often that I didn’t read every word of all of the signs as they scrolled through the pages. After all, at 90 km/h you can miss some parts of some signs.
The reality of bushfires
But, one thing that driving through the town of Aratula showed me was how ‘real’ this world outside the city suburbs was. There were more fire appliances in Aratula than there were cars, caravans and trucks that normally plied this section of the highway. Then there were utes and trailers carrying hay bales and 1000 litre containers of water. This was the real thing – and it made me even more determined to lend my hands.
Not All Roads Led to Casino
But, it wasn’t just Cunningham’s Gap that was closed to traffic. Many of the roads that traverse the mountainous country, that some bright spark thought would make a great natural boundary when they severed Queensland from New South Wales, were also closed. This, along with bushfires still burning in the areas through which I wanted to travel, made me reassess my plans – and I set off once again to travel back east and down the Pacific Highway to Ballina and then, head west, up to Lismore and out further to Casino.
Smoke from the bushfires
From the hills that overlook Lismore, the reality was driven home once more. The smoke from surrounding fires lay heavy in the the town’s valley and more smoke could be seen on several points of the horizon. I grit my teeth a little as I leave Lismore and head west to Casino – just 30 minutes further west but definitely more in the firing line.
The registration process on arrival at the camp was simple with several mandatory forms for insurance purposes and for everyone’s safety. But, at the same time, this is no holiday camp with alcohol understandably limited to two standard drinks each day.
Then, it was the allocation of my camp site and setting up home for the next week (or so).
Very Genuine Welcome from BlazeAid Volunteers
To say that the welcome at the BlazeAid Camp at Casino was ‘welcoming’ would be a huge understatement. Everyone was in the same boat and super keen to help the community in their time of need. There were travelling stories a plenty each flavoured with how many BlazeAid camps each had been on and who was a virgin on this camp – Ahhh… That’d be me!
A large number of the volunteers (I would say…) were retired and travelling this great country and helping out at the same time. Win-Win really.
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners; and nibblies in between, are provided by local community groups (churches and organisations) – and each is given freely and with sincere gratitude.
Ron ran a tight (yet relaxed ship) with several whiteboards identifying who was in each working party, who the leader was, what esky they had been allocated (for lunches, snacks and water) and which ‘Combat Ready’ trailer to put it all in.
Everyone chipped in for washing up after dinner and then it was off to bed – to the sound of
helicopters being serviced overnight to be ready for tomorrow.
Day One (This is Where I Lose My Virginity – Again)
To those in BlazeAid, I was a virgin – and I think it showed.
I’ve probably driven past many thousands of kilometres in my life and sometimes take the time to wonder about the bush magic of strainer posts, tensioner, 3 bard / 2 plain and star pickets.
As a cartographer, I had also plotted many metres (and links) of surveyors’ survey books (working up the page) where they had noted any fences that they had crossed or passed. I was about to get ‘deflowered’.
Ron’s inspiring words ring in your ears as he concludes every briefing session as you head off for the day or reflect on the day that was – “Now, Bugger Off!”. A true motivator.
Our first task was to attend a property at Rappville (which had been hit severely by fires some two months previous) and help fencing contractors reinstate damaged fences and erect new ones.
The first task was to walk about two kilometres of fence line removing the bottom strand of barbed wire and replacing any timber posts that were no longer serviceable with galvanised star pickets. Well, that took us up until smoko – which we grabbed with both hands and a cup. It’s always chatting among the gang in the bush over a cuppa and fresh baked goods donated by the local community. Two words – ‘Yum’ and ‘Thanks’.
More heaving work after the bushfires
Then it was down to where the contractors were now ready for us and we threaded 5 strands of barbed wire between strainer posts (nearly 4 meters of iron bark buried about two metres into the ground) with concrete posts spaced between. Once the strands were laced and tensioned (using a very simple but very effective agricultural implement called a tensioner – good ol’ farmer technology), our next task was to drive star pickets at regular intervals (two between each concrete post) and twist wire fix the strands to this.
Then, by mid afternoon, it was with mutual agreement that we packed up and travelled back to Casino for a break before dinner (hosted by the Country Women’s Association) and a well deserved sleep.
Day Two (Brush With Some Fire)
After another great breakfast (I chose porridge with an egg and bacon) and a morning brief from Ron, it was off in the cars once more for a return visit to the farm at Rappville – where we were yesterday for some more runs of fencing.
Not long into the day’s work there was an all mighty crash and bang not far from us and just to the north. A huge gum tree had fallen over into the gully. Lucky really that we were all there to hear it, otherwise it may not have made a sound…
A gum tree caught in the bushfire
It was a gum tree with a base diameter of about 1200mm and the trunk was still smouldering from the fire that had gone through that area about two months ago. The spot where the stump had been sitting was a pool of glowing embers and the embers up the trunk were sparking new flames in the tinder dry branches and leaves that lay strewn throughout the gully.
A phone call to emergency services, soon had a rural fire brigade appliance turn up to the property. After a bulldozer on the property cleared a path through saplings and the rough ground between the new fire and the fire fighting appliance, the boys were soon managing the fire – noting that the embers up the inside of the trunk just had to be left to burn.
Bushfires continued to burn further south
While all this was developing, work on the fence continued and smoke from fires further to the south rolled in to create an eerie sensation with a red sun and heavy shadows in the middle of the day.
Quite simply, we’d had smoko, we’d completed nearly 200m of fencing, we had a fire smouldering in a huge tree trunk some 100m from us, the sun was red, the air was filled with smoke, it was windy, we knew we could get out on the road we had come in on… oh… and it was lunchtime. So, we bolted out of there.
Tonight would be dinner at the Salvation Army. I’ve never dined with the Salvos and I’m looking forward to adding that to my CV – and enjoying more of Casino’s warm and very genuine hospitality.
Day Three (At the Desk)
Not sure if it was something I said – or how I said it – but, today finds me at a desk at base camp giving some training and advice on Excel Spreadsheeting.
I’m now experienced in running strands of barbed wire, capable in the use of a tensioner and even chosen as the work group’s chosen one to use the two-stroke petrol-driven post-driver for the star pickets. They say it’s not because of my good looks but because of my height. I’ll always remember my first time…
Those three days went so quickly, but I wanted to be home for the weekend to see the Hon. Minister again and to have our usual family dinner.
I took the Lions Road (off Summerland Way) back over the border as it is one of the only ones open (Note: You can follow this road on my itinerary here).
Give Up Some Time
So, if you want a trip away from the everyday, you could do a lot worse than donate several days or a week or more to the work of BlazeAid. You’ll get accommodation for you tent, camper, van, or motorhome; you’ll get hot showers; you’ll get three square meals (plus great local bakes); you’ll get to see communities I bet you’ve never heard of (let alone been to before); you’ll have fun; you’ll learn new skills; you’ll get to contribute your skills and knowledge; and heck – you’ll even meet some great people (BIG Hi to Linda, Di, Terry, Mark, Peter, Lance and Ron… etc).
Take care you guys. You’re doin’ a great job!
See you soon.
