By Kyra Gillespie
Stories of heroism, bravery and kindness are emerging beneath the rubble and ruin of the Bunyip State Park fires.
They say tragedy brings people together, and it couldn’t be more true for the communities in and around the fire-affected areas.
In fact, there are so many stories of goodwill that the Gazette has compiled a list:
– BlazeAid is a group of volunteers who help rebuild fences after natural disasters.
If you have a property that has been affected by the fires – come down to the Bunyip Netball Club rooms to register your property for assistance.
BlazeAid supply the labour to help clear properties and rebuild the fences, the property owner is responsible for ordering the materials and covering their cost. BlazeAidare trying to fundraise to help the farmers cover some of the cost of the materials. Many BlazeAid trailers of tools and equipment are on their way to Bunyip now.
Donations can be made via the website www.blazeaid.com.au and to make sure it goes to Bunyip BlazeAid please then email admin to say you would like it to go here.
Volunteers are welcome – with the fencing and cleanup of existing damaged fencing and also cooking for the volunteers. The cooking is been organized through Bunyip Community House or contact Davina Ann Thompson-Veenstra to help with this.
– A fund to help Victorian communities in Cardinia, Wellington, Baw Baw, East Gippsland and Latrobe has been established.
The fund, set up by Emergency Management Victoria and Bendigo Bank, is a formal channel for the public to donate directly to affected communities.
Money will go towards clean-up activities, business support or counselling, temporary fencing and water quality control measures.
“The impact on these communities has been significant. Recovery is different for everyone and some people, families and communities have a long journey ahead of them,” EMV Commissioner Andrew Crisp said.
Donations are accepted at Bendigo Bank branches or online.
– Warragul-based music festival Beyond the Valley has started a GoFundMe for bushfire affected residents.
“The major front burning east of Melbourne in Bunyip State Park threatens our home community of Beyond The Valley. Many residents have already been evacuated to the immediate danger with areas such as Bunyip, Tonimbuk, Garfield, Tynong and Nar Nar Goon directly affected by the blaze,“ BTV said online.
“The team behind Beyond The Valley has donated $5,000 to the efforts and we encourage all past and future participants of our festival to make a donation to the appeal.“
The page can be found by searching Victorian Bushfire Appeal in GoFundMe.
– The Casey Cardinia Foundation has set up a platform for donations to the Bushfire Relief Appeal. Anyone wanting to contribute financially to victims can do so through the foundation at www.everydayhero.com.au/event/BunyipFireRelief.
– Narre Warren organisation Clean as Casper brought their free mobile shower to the Pakenham relief centre in the height of the crisis.
The volunteer-run group normally provide the facilities for the homeless, but diverted it to the relief centre.
We would like to give a big thank you to the Cardinia Shire Council and the amazing work their staff did every night, staying late and early mornings, feeding and supporting our local people in Need!
“It was so lovely to see the local council stand up and support these people and provide so much support for them,“ they posted on Facebook.
“Also to all the other groups that came down and supported also, thank you too!
“It’s really good to see people getting together at a time of need and helping each other.
“If we all worked together like this and not just when a disaster happened.
“What a world we would live in!“
– Organisations including Animal Cruelty Hotline, Eye Candy Motorsports and Flashmarket Productions have collected donations and food for domestic animals and wildlife in Tonimbuk.
Collected from Petstock in Cranbourne on Sunday 10 March, the donation drive was a huge success.
“Thank you one and all. Thank you Petstock and thank you Casey!“ Casey Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon said.
– Bayles Fire Brigade are adopting some families who have lost everything in the Bunyip fires only escaping with the clothes on their backs and their pet dogs.
“We are asking you to purchase a gift card when your out shopping so that these families can have some dignity and purchase their own choice of new items,“ the brigade posted on Facebook.
Vouchers can be from any store, including Coles, Woolworths, JB Hi Fi, Bunnings, Target, Big W, Or Myer.
Gift cards can be delivered to Bayles Fire Brigade on Thursday 14 March 3pm – 7pm or Sunday 17 March 9.30am – 11am or posted to:
Bayles Fire Brigade
C/- Bayles General Store
660 Kooweerup Longwarry Road
Bayles Vic 3981
The brigade asks that people include their telephone and phone number with their gift so they can record donations for transparency and accountability.
No cash will be accepted.
– Gembrook cafe Spencers Store opened their doors to the community of Gembrook and surrounds when the fires displaced many.
“Our doors will be open to all who need coffee, brunch or something sweet. But more importantly our doors are open to anyone who needs a place to go to get away from the bushfires in Gembrook,“ they posted on Facebook.
“We have free wifi, so please don’t hesitate to come and spend the day with us.
“Please feel free to share this with others that may need somewhere to rest and recover today.“
– MG Trading and Horseland have been helping to meet the immediate needs of land and animal owners from Pakenham to Labertouche, with many items provided by customers, suppliers, pony and adult riders clubs, and the general public.
MG Trading has been able to provide things like feed for horses and other animals, pallets of drinking water and temporary fencing.
As well as contributing items from their own stock though, MG Trading Warragul has accepted donations of around $3,700 which have gone directly to providing essential items. So far almost $8,000 worth of stock has been delivered free of charge.
“Customers, clubs and groups have offered support by way of donations that can pay for what others need, manager of MG Trading Warragul, Matt Lee said.
“All products supplied to those affected by the fires were charged out at our cost price to ensure that every dollar donated went as far as possible.“’
– A Pakenham pizza shop donated hot dinners to the hardworking fireys.
“Big shout out to Mumma G’s, I rang to order Pizza for the firefighters they donated all for free dropped them off Bunyip, Tynong and Nar Nar Goon. Great community spirit,“ Linda Harrington said.
– Officer’s Summer Snow Juice company donated dozens of boxes for the firefighters at the Nar Nar Goon staging area.
“Load number two done just in time for breakfast for all the CFA, and all other services at Nar Nar Goon who are fighting the Bunyip fires. Good luck today, everyone stay safe,“ they posted on Sunday 3.
– The Bunyip Top Pub’s bushfire relief appeal – including a slice of every parma sold going to the effort – had raised over $10,000 by early this week.
– The Pakenham Racing Club waived admission fees at its meeting on Thursday 7 March and raised money for the Casey Cardinia Foundation’s Bushfire Relief Appeal. Patrons donated $1385 on the night – as well as the many donations to the Tynong Fire Brigade’s tins that will be returned when they are full.
