THE enormous scale of community-led disaster recovery was brought into sharp focus at a recent meeting of Shepparton Central Rotary Club, where guest speakers Steve Threlfall and Greg Noble shared a deeply moving account of their contributions to bushfire recovery.
Greg introduced Blaze Aid and its role as a cornerstone of rural recovery since its inception in 2009. Greg, who joined the organisation in 2020, shared the massive cumulative impact of the local relief effort, including 5,022 volunteer workdays logged, 8,570 total volunteer working days completed to date, 836 unique volunteers answering the call – including 26 new faces in one week recently – 275 local farmers registered for critical assistance, 468 kilometres of destroyed fencing cleared and 272 kilometres completely rebuilt, serving Blaze Aid’s primary purpose of restoring secure boundaries for primary producers.
Local identity, business owner and Councillor, Steve ‘Trelly’ Threlfall, provided a firsthand account of the physical and emotional toll of rural disaster recovery, highlighting the immense logistics of rebuilding and the resilience of fire-affected farmers.
Steve extended a heartfelt thank you to the Shepparton Central helpers who supported recovery from the Longwood fires by providing a truckload of hay and working with Blaze Aid to clean up burnt fences in preparation for re-fencing.
Shepparton Central Rotary Club President, Allen Gale, said the most gripping moment detailed how the crisis hit home for local families.
“The sheer scale of the emergency became clear as farmers dealt with the heartbreaking reality of managing tens of thousands of injured livestock. Recognising the immediate need for specialised support and supplies, Trelly provided thousands of rounds of ammunition and launched a social media appeal to which the response was unprecedented,” Mr Gale shared.
That response included 260,000 rounds of ammunition sourced and distributed in just a few days, support poured in from every state in Australia, and $70,000 in cash donations raised to support the community.
The Longwood Pub quickly transformed into a vital frontline distribution hub, serving as a central point for coordinating the influx of hay and other essentials. Steve noted that the grassroots response was strongly backed by excellent support from various government services.
Under extraordinary circumstances, Steve reflected on the positive attitude maintained by affected locals despite immense loss, the volunteers who pitched in, and the deep humility found within these communities.
The presentation concluded with Trelly describing the entire deployment as a profoundly humbling experience that showcased the best of the Australian spirit in the face of tragedy. He presented Greg with a $5,000 cheque for fencing materials as Blaze Aid continues its efforts.
