BLAZING A trail, a Kilmore East group of volunteers has been lending a hand in the dire times faced by bushfire and flood-hit residents since 2009 in Mitchell Shire and elsewhere across Australia.
Touched by the generous help provided to them by people and organisations, including strangers, as their property suffered big damage in the devastating 2009 bushfires, Kilmore East farmers Kevin and Rhonda Butler formed BlazeAid to help those who suffered similar tragedies like themselves.
Still associated with the organisation, they passed on the mantle to their daughter Melissa Jones in 2021.
Mrs Jones, now the chief executive officer, said: “It was actually my mum, who said, ‘well, you know, we have had help. How about we help our neighbours?’ And that essence of paying it forward has really stuck through. And we have helped in natural disasters across Australia every year since (the Butlers formed BlazeAid),” Mrs Jones said.
“We have helped about 14,000 property owners all over Australia. We have done about 19,000 kilometres of refencing, rebuilding, and a further 19,5000km of clearing after floods, fires and cyclones and that is like from Melbourne to Rome, I believe, a little bit more. Yeah, so pretty amazing.
“We have had around 240 base camps in every state in Australia except the Northern Territory.
“We have had close to 40,000 volunteers through the doors since 2009, and well over half a billion dollar worth of aid towards disaster recovery in Australia.”
Mrs Jones said BlazeAid supplies volunteer labour force. Property owners need to supply materials for the repair work.
“At the moment, we have got 11 camps running, one in New South Wales, one in Western Australia and the rest are in Victoria after the recent fires. We are about to start recovery works in Queensland with floods there. There are between 30 and 70 volunteers who come and help with the works. They are wonderful people with boots on the ground, doing all voluntary work. There is no fee involved.”
Across Victoria, the organisation is running nine base camps, including one in Euroa and Alexandra, helping those hit by the Longwood and nearby fires. More than 400 properties have registered for help.
“I would imagine we have saved quite a few lives doing what we do,” Mr Jones said.
About donations, she said: “We never have enough funding. We are very careful about how we spend. We have the mantra that every dollar is spent as the donor intended. Donations vary from year to year. When there is larger disasters, we get more donations. In 2020, we had donations of up to $14 million. But it is nowhere near that now. We always need more donations.”
To donate, BlazeAid details are: Direct deposit: Account name: BlazeAid Inc, Bendigo Bank BSB: 633 000, Account No: 149 795 908. Cheques or money orders can be made to BlazeAid Inc, PO Box 73, Kilmore 3764. For Inquiries, phone Debbie on 0418 990 267.
