There are a range of opportunities that provide assistance to bushfire affected landholders and communities that you can get involved in which are outlined below.
Agistment
The VFF is coordinating offers of agistment for farmers whose livestock have been affected by the bushfires. Visit the VFF website
www.vff.org.au or Victorian farmers affected by the bushfires need urgent help with fodder and agistment. If you are able to offer support please register via phone 1300 882 833 or download our Bushfire Fodder/Agistment Donation Form and return via fax (03) 9207 5500 or email
vff@vff.org.au If you are able to offer support with agistment
click here to download the VFF's Bushfire Fodder/Agistment Form.
Equipment Needed for Landcare Group Tool Trailer
Kinglake Landcare Group lost its tool trailer and all its contents in the 7 February bushfires. To assist the rebuilding of the natural environment and to support the continuing good works of the Kinglake Landcare Group, the group is seeking any donations of tools for a new tool trailer. To help rebuild the group, refitting a new Landcare tool trailer is a priority.
The group has identified what the contents of the trailer were and what will need replacing. See list below:
10 pairs of long handle loppers
5 chisels
2 pairs chainsaw chaps
10 sets of secateurs
12 Hamilton Tree Planters
8 bow saws
5 pruning saws
2 backpack sprayers
10 Mallets
4 safety goggles
2 herbicide spray masks and spray cartridges
10 witches hats
30 pairs of riggers gloves
20 pairs of rubber gloves
100 dabber bottles
1 Kinglake Landcare sandwich board sign
1 Kinglake Landcare Group Banner (3m x 1.2m)
1 portable BBQ with gas bottle and accessories
2 Herbicide spraying warning signs
3 5L fuel containers
Already chainsaws and brushcutters have been donated to the Landcare group.
In addition, there were a range of chemicals in the trailer such as Roundup, Garlon, dyes and surfactants - exact quantities unspecified. If any groups were also able to donate some of the typical Landcare consumables such as tree guards, stakes, erosion control matting or squares these would be most welcome.
Any assistance of material aid donations of the above items (new or secondhand) that you or your organisation/group can offer would be gratefully appreciated by the Kinglake Landcare Group.
The task ahead is massive, but with the communities support the group will tackle it one step and one project at a time.
Many thanks on behalf of Kinglake Landcare
If you can donate items, please feel free to contact Tim Connell (Environmental Works Officer - City of Whittlesea) via email tim.connell@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or phone 0408 599 485. A pick up of any tools or other items can be arranged. In the event of an excess of donations, items will be donated to other Landcare groups in the North East region who have also been affected by fires and are in need of ongoing support.
Fencing Volunteers
Victorian Farmers Federation
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is coordinating a register for fencing volunteers to log details for:
• Volunteers willing to assist with fencing activities
• Farmers requiring assistance with fencing
• Donations of fencing materials
Volunteers are encouraged to contact Wal Lawson (VFF Fencing Coordinator) on tel: 1300 882 833 or submit their details through the VFF’s website www.vff.org.au Local Fencing Coordinators have also been appointed for each area affected by the bushfires and the contact details for these local coordinators are available from the VFF.
BlazeAid
BlazeAid was established by local farmers from Mitchell Shire to assist with the re-fencing of landholders’ properties who lost fences in the bushfires. Volunteers are needed – please ring Kevin Butler (details below) or just turn up at his wool shed (70 Kilmore East-Sunday Creek Road, Kilmore East) 8am any day, and bring fencing materials if you have them. The BlazeAid program will end on 15 August 2009 and covers the entire Kilmore and Murrundindi Fire Complex.
More details: please contact Kevin Butler 0418 530 471 or Cheryl Gray 0400 578 533.
Gardening after the Fire – Plant Donation Scheme
The Sunday Creek - Dry Creek Landcare Group and the Pretty Sally Garden Club have initiated a plant donation scheme to assist people in the Mitchell Shire who lost their gardens in the Black Saturday Fires to re-establish their gardens. The program also has the support of the Rotary Club of Bacchus Marsh and the Upper Maribyrnong Catchment Group.
Whilst the groups acknowledge that gardening may not be a high priority right now, the re-establishment of gardens is part of the fire recovery process.
Elyse Kelly, Secretary of the Sunday Creek-Dry Creek Landcare Group spoke to the Pretty Sally Garden Club at their April meeting to promote the idea of joining together to donate plants and cuttings to those who lost their gardens. Elyse was overwhelmed by the positive response, with many garden club members stating that they had already started ‘potting up’ plants for donating and member Dorothy Archbold volunteered to be the main contact for the project. Since then both the Rotary Club of Bacchus Marsh and the Upper Maribyrnong Catchment Group have come on board.
The Upper Maribyrnong Catchment Group will be donating around 2,000 local trees and shrubs for bushfire affected landowners for their gardens or revegetation projects. These plants were grown by TreeProject growers in Melbourne for the Upper Maribyrnong Catchment (Landcare) Group using local seed.
The groups are well aware of the risk of weed and disease spread; especially when there is no other plants to out complete the weeds and therefore will:
· not be supplying plants that have the potential to become environmental weeds
· will be disinfecting all pots prior to potting
· only be using potting mix, rather than garden soil
A set of simple guidelines has been developed for those wanting to donate plants.
People in the Mitchell Shire who have lost garden plants in the fires and would like some plants to help re-establish their gardens, or those wanting to donate plants should contact Dorothy Archbold from the Pretty Sally Garden Club on archbolds@hotmail.com or 5783 1576 or Elyse Kelly from the Landcare Group on cambankke@bigpond.com. Please remember this is a volunteer program so species selection and numbers are limited.
Grow Native Plants for Bushfire Victims - Volunteers Needed
The TreeProject needs more volunteer growers to grow native trees and shrubs for fire-affected landholders. If you would like to become a volunteer grower to assist fire-affected landholders contact the TreeProject via email info@treeproject.asn.au or phone 9650 9477
More information about the TreeProject go to http://www.treeproject.asn.au/
Victorian Mobile Landcare Group
The Victorian Mobile Landcare Group is group of 4WD drivers who specialise in Landcare projects in difficult and remote areas. The group is available to assist farm/property owners and Landcare groups who need assistance with Landcare-type projects, notably in the fire affected areas. The group has experience installing stock control fencing, erosion control and revegetation. All drivers are experienced and certificated by 4WD Victoria and comply with the tread lightly principles. The group is a self contained and self sufficient, apart from essential materials and larger equipment. All hand tools can be supplied.
More information please contact David McKinnon (Victorian Mobile Landcare Group - Projects Officer) BH 0411 410 568, AH 5368 2095