Woodenbong BA progress

Mt Lindesay is in the background every day. It presents a differing view as we progress from one end of the farm to the other. The fence we are building goes upstream along the banks of the Richmond River. The same Richmond River that goes via Kyogle, Casino then Ballina to the coast. Here it's more a creek than a river and we have to ford it multiple times. 

Gumboots are the order of the day, with all the rain about, and it has been a challenge just getting to the fence. So yep, each day is a mix of a 4x4 driving adventures combined with building a new fence.

Depending on the weather and condition of the terrain, our team of 4 old farts, have been completing 150m to 450m per day. A very creditable effort our farmer continually tells us. Needless to say, he is very pleased.

Woodenbong Big Job

Farmers up this way seem just a little more laconic than others I've met in my travels.

When arriving on-farm and meeting the farmer for the first time, it's best to shot-the-breeze for a bit. Not rush things. Let him set the pace. So after a bit of to-and-fro, we ask if he has a lot of fences burnt and needing replacement? I got a shipment in he says as we drive to where the wire and posts are stored. Far out! That's going to take some doing! Yep about 17km in all he says. Next question, what is the terrain like? Yep, a bit up and down in places. Nice NOT! 

But hey if we weren't doing this we would be going something else. Probably something a bit easier *me thinks* but whatever and we make a start.

Woodenbong BA

Rappville - January 2020.

How things have changed since October/November last year. The fires have extended all the way down from northern NSW to Victoria and right now there are 23 BlazeAid camps around Australia needing volunteers.

I spent most of December and Christmas New Years in Cotton Tree then returned to Casino. Casino camp had plenty of volunteers so after 2 weeks I decided to move to Woodenbong camp.

Woodenbong is closer to the Queensland border and is 520m above sea level so it's a bit cooler in the day and more importantly at night, nice. Only 11 registered farms but there are some big ones among them with 5 still to be completed, probably by the end of February. Mt Lindesay (1170m) not far away provides a picturesque backdrop to our work.

These photos are from Rappville area and show the recovery of the trees and grass. It's the first thing I notice on my return. Stunning when compared to late last year.

The burnt forest machine photo was taken near the site of the burnt fence post photo, but about 10 weeks earlier. Nice how the brown has turned to green. 

October 2019.

January 2020.

The extent of the Rappville fire before the Myrtle Creek fire started.

Casino NSW - BlazeAid

So the story goes: A busload of Japanese tourist arrived in Casino NSW one day looking to do some serious gambling and was very disappointed. Probably an urban myth but it sounds good.

Casino, a very busy town, is not all that far from the fire ground. Rappville, a little village to the south-west, is pretty much in the centre and the devastation to the town is confronting. Over twenty houses were lost to the fire and hundreds of kms of farm fences, sheds and farm machinery from miles around.

The BlazeAid camp has about 40 volunteers going out each day ripping up, replacing or repairing fences. The locals in Casino via clubs and service groups are providing evening meals, cakes and bottled water. The work is sometimes very dirty but always rewarding especially when the farm paddock has been locked up and cattle contained.

They saved the Pub three times!

But not this Koala. 

Some very long fences need work.

All that is left.

NSW on fire.

New stops heading north.

Northern NSW and south-east Queensland are copping it big time, and it is not summer yet. Time to do a bit for someone else. A new BlazeAid camp is starting in Casino NSW and I'm headed that way so I will stop in for a bit.

This time heading north I'm trying out a few new overnight stops that appear to have merit. The pub at Coopernook being one of the better ones. The pub is only a km or two off the highway and its quiet. Popular tonight but still enough room in the back yard for my MH. Counter meals, hamburger and beer for me tonight and rugby world cup on the telly. Nice, well except that Australia lost.