Helping communities recover after natural disasters.
BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation that works with farmers and families in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods. Working alongside the rural families and farmers, our volunteers help to rebuild fences that have been damaged or destroyed.
Equally important, volunteers also help to lift the spirits of farming families who are often facing their second or third flood event after years of drought, or devastating losses through bushfires. BlazeAid volunteers work in a disaster-affected area for many months, working with rural property owners and farmers to help them rebuild their fencing and their communities and to become productive again.
Please scroll down for basecamp details.
MORE VOLUNTEERS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED
at our basecamps in Qld at Murgon, Mundubbera, Monto and Mulgowie.
There are literally hundreds of rural families relying on our help. Please, if you’re able to volunteer with us, give us a call.
Grey Nomads heading north for winter
Have you thought about leaving home a few weeks or a month early to come to a BlazeAid basecamp in Queensland? You can experience the BlazeAid camaraderie while making a huge difference in the lives of rural Australian families who have been devastated by a number of floods in recent months.
Some farmers are ready to throw in the towel and walk off their land. With the help of BlazeAid volunteers from all walks of life, we can work alongside them and help get them back on their feet. We’ve already made a difference in the lives of hundreds of farmers. You, too, can become a BlazeAid volunteer and let these families know that they’re not alone, and not forgotten after the media coverage has faded.
ABC Radio fundraising appeal for BlazeAid
Click here to read the ABC’s media release.
ABC Local Radio programs have given BlazeAid tremendous support over the past four years, highlighting our need for more volunteers. They are encouraging people from throughout Australia to support our work by donation so we can continue to help farmers affected by natural disasters.
ABC Local Radio flagship national rural program “The Country Hour” will encourage people to donate with a special series of regional programs from Monday April 15.
And in Melbourne, Jon Faine’s state wide program “Conversation Hour” will also be discussing BlazeAid as it encourages listeners to donate on that day as well.
Click here to find us on Facebook.
BlazeAid volunteer, Paul Crompton has made a terrific DVD of his time at Maffra, Victoria, this year.
Click here to see his DVD on youtube.
Click here to view ABC TV’s 7.30 ACT program on 1 February 2013 which featured BlazeAid Bookham.
Neroli Rooke and Eliza Rogers broadcast the ABC’s Queensland Country Hour from BlazeAid Mundubbera.
BlazeAid Camp Coordinator, Gloria Collins, was interviewed, along with a local farmer who spoke about some of the challenges they’ve faced after the floods.
Click here to read the story and listen to the interviews.
Ian Campbell of ABC 702 Sydney spoke with Nimmitabel volunteer, Bev Horton.
Click here to read the story and listen to the interview.
Volunteers are again being called on to help at the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show. The show is on 19-21 July. Volunteers are needed from Tuesday 16 July to Tuesday 23 July, with more volunteers needed some days than others.
Volunteers can stay onsite in their caravans or motorhomes. Please contact Andrew on 03 5439 5094 or email secretary@sheepshow.com
Farmers generously donate a fleece to be sold for various charities, and BlazeAid will receive this year’s proceeds.
Ride Around Oz for BlazeAid
Ben Croft will spend six months cycling around Australia. Along the way, he’ll be fundraising for BlazeAid, aiming to reach his target of $5,000.
We’re very grateful to Ben for choosing to support our work in helping rural families. We wish him smooth roads and good tailwinds.
Click here to visit Ben’s fundraising site.
Many of the areas we’re working in are hilly or steep. If you have any medical conditions or disabilities that might make it difficult for you to work in these conditions, please discuss it with the Camp Coordinator before coming to the basecamp.
Bushfires in Tasmania, 2013
Our Hamilton and Sorell basecamps have now closed. We do not have any basecamps in Tasmania.
Bushfires in NSW, 2013
Fencing continues from our basecamp in NSW at Coonabarabran.
Our Nimmitabel and Bookham basecamps have now closed.
The Coonabarabran basecamp will scale down from 22 May, and continue with smaller volunteer numbers.
Please visit our Volunteering Information page for more details on how you can join us before phoning our Camp Coordinator. Then click on our Contacts page for phone and email details.
Bushfires in Victoria, 2013
Fencing continues from our basecamp in Heyfield, Gippsland (previously at Maffra).
The closing date has been extended to mid-late May.
Please visit our Volunteering Information page for more details on how you can join us before phoning our Camp Coordinator. Then click on our Contacts page for phone and email details.
Floods in Queensland, 2013
Fencing continues from our basecamps at Monto, Mundubbera, Murgon, Biggenden, and Mulgowie, Queensland.
Our Gin Gin basecamp has now closed.
Our Biggenden and Dululu basecamps will close at the end of this week.
There are hundreds of properties registered with BlazeAid for assistance, and many of these farmers are under extreme pressure after being flooded two and three times in recent weeks.
Please visit our Volunteering Information page for more details on how you can join us before phoning our Camp Coordinators. Then click on our Contacts page for phone and email details.
Property Owners in all Australian States
If you have been affected by a natural disaster, please visit our Fencing Help page for information about having BlazeAid volunteers working with you.
Click here for information about how to establish a BlazeAid basecamp in your area.
Plasmar fence posts.
Australian Composite Systems have generously donated their plasmar fence posts to a number of our basecamps for distribution to fire-affected farmers. Although there were some initial reservations about the new technology, once the posts were put to use, we had dozens of farmers asking for as many posts as we had available for them.
Given the generosity of Australian Composite Systems, we ask that you consider their product when you’re buying new fence posts. If you’d like to speak with one of our Coordinators about them, please feel free to contact us.
Plasmar recycled fence posts can be used in the same way as timber in that they can be pile driven, nailed, screwed, bolted, stapled and glued. They are suitable for general fencing, and are 100% recycled from engineering grade polymer material (plastics) which has been CSIRO tested for durability and proven to last for more than 50 years.
For more information, click here to visit their website.
Donations
BlazeAid relies entirely on donations. For information about donating to BlazeAid, please visit our Donations page, which includes our Donations Wish List. You can now also donate via PayPal. Donations to BlazeAid can now be Tax Deductible – please visit our Donations page for details of how to donate to receive a tax receipt.
If you are able to donate fencing materials, including plain wire, steel posts, barbed wire, ringlock, end assemblies etc, we can pass these on to farmers who cannot afford them.
In Qld, NSW and Vic, you can drop them off at the basecamps.
BlazeAid Patron
Ian “Macca” McNamara is the Patron of BlazeAid. We thank him for his wonderful support in helping BlazeAid find volunteers to help with our fence rebuilding. ABC radio and TV have been invaluable in their support of BlazeAid since its inception in 2009. Hundreds of our volunteers have heard about BlazeAid through the ABC, especially on Macca s Australia All Over. We look forward to a long ongoing relationship with the ABC, especially with Macca on Sunday mornings.
Please check this website again for updates.
BlazeAid volunteers:
Not just rebuilding fences, but helping rebuild lives.
