Approximately 32 volunteers have crammed what one farmer described as five years worth of work into one week on Granite Belt properties still recovering from last year’s bushfires.
The volunteers, working with Rural Aid, gave their time to seven farmers who were impacted by fires in late-October as part of a week-long farm recovery event in Dalveen.
Rural Aid chief executive John Warlters said it was an honour to be able to help them get back on track.
“There’s this enormous uplift emotionally that comes with having people providing help and support,” Mr Warlters said.
“It’s a hand-up, not a hand-out. But we know it means so much.”
Farmer Brian Wilson is hoping to reopen his fruit and nut tree nursery by the end of April after fires destroyed 95 per cent of his property.
“It took everything out. There [were] cars exploding .. it sounded like a warzone
“The only thing I saved was the house and my vehicles.
Mr Wilson said the fire forced him to think about pulling the pin on his farm business.
He said Rural Aid volunteers had done at least five years worth of work to restore his farm last week.
“I am so grateful for Rural Aid for the help because I couldn’t have done it.”
Six months on from the fires, Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton said the long-road to recovery had only just begun.
“It’s vital for disaster-affected communities to know they haven’t been forgotten especially when the next event happens soon after and the media turns their attention elsewhere,” Cr Hamilton said.
“Knowing that an organisation such as Rural Aid has come out in full force to help the Dalveen community rebuild, is invaluable.”
