Back to Woolooga Fires

The Woolooga camp was going to close on the 25th of November. But then a farmer offered his assistance with a place to relocate to.

After six weeks at the camp, this was a good time for me to take a break. So I'm back to Maroochydore to do all the stuff that backs up whilst being away. A couple of weeks later and I'm at a loose end. So headed back to do some fencing, for just for a few days, before Xmas.

Anyway, a fencing job falls through and we are at a loose end for a day. Offered an unusual job; 'can you get an old Komatsu D85e dozer out of a boggy spot on a farm?'. Nup, no experience with that. But hey that never stopped us before. A new experience... up for that? You bet!

Recent rain and the bottom of a very steep gully were the main issues. Lots of old sleepers were gobbled up under the dozer tracks before things got serious and tree trunks were chained into the tracks of the dozer. The dozer had heaps of power, just needed something to grab on to. Having a tractor and backhoe on hand also helped.

So yep, you got to love BlazeAid. Always a new experience to be had. You just need to stick your hand up.

Backing down to drop off the sleepers.

Yeah right!  

But persistence pays off.

Woolooga Fires - Lower Wonga Camp

After six weeks we are still working to lock up this one large property. It's very big and got hit hard. So hard it's best and quickest to just repair some fences at this stage. The bottom two wires are the worst off along most of the fences. Other fences are so bad there is no alternative but to rip them up. Where trees have fallen on the fence it's a case of doing whatever needs doing. Lots of chainsaw work every day. 'Do what you can where you can, we need to muster the cattle'. But the stockyards need lots of attention as well.

Before the fire and with the drought conditions some were bringing in feed for their cattle. Then the fire burns what little grass there was. Now the lack of fences is preventing the regular farm jobs like drenching. Mustering requires fences and yards.

Anyone with hay to sell can name their price. A lot of hay has been shipped out west by various charities, so just getting some is tricky let alone paying the price.

BlazeAid - Woolooga Fires - Lower Wonga - Overseas Vanpackers

From time to time at BlazeAid camps, where I've been volunteering, overseas vanpackers have dropped in to help out with fire or flood recovery. It's a win-win as the tourists get to do something different, meeting and working closely with locals and going places and see things they would not usually get to see or do. For BlazeAid they are a source of young strong labour and are most welcome. A couple of days or a couple of weeks, it all helps.

At a BlazeAid camp, all the volunteers are provided with somewhere to camp, hot showers, toilet facilities and 3 meals a day. The work is usually farm fencing, either pulling down a fence or building a new one. No previous experience is required and all tools and safety equipment are supplied.

Of course, the camps are open to anyone fit enough to work out in a paddock from about 7am till mid-afternoon. It can be hot, hilly, dry, wet, dirty, but it's always rewarding.

The current camp at Lower Wonga Hall is here to help farmers recover from the Woolooga Fires. The camp has been going for about a month now and has done some great work already.

So if you are an overseas visitor or an Aussie touring about looking for a new experience stop into a BlazeAid camp and give it a go.

Was once a fence, a very long fence!

Cut it up, roll it up, cart it away.

A new fence, not always in a neat and tidy paddock.

Lower Wonga - Woolooga Fires

It's an easy drive from Maroochydore to Lower Wonga where BlazeAid has been given use of the Community Hall and rural fire shed to set up camp.

We are here to help rebuild farm fences after the September fires. Just a couple of teams went out on Monday but by the end of the week, the volunteer numbers had increased to about 20. The weather, storm season in the south-east Qld, is slowing things down but has not yet dampened enthusiasm. A benefit of this soaking rain is that those tree stumps still smouldering weeks after the main event will surely be out now.

The Woolooga fire ground.

Lower Wonga Hall.

RFS shed and some work trailers - early morning.

Cotton Tree

Came home via Boomi, Chinchilla Lake, Linville to Cotton Tree. Camping at places well known and liked by me.

Been here for several months completing domestic tasks and attending to maintenance issues so as to be ready and able to head out again. The thing most noticeable, after being away for half a year, is the skyline around Maroochydore, cranes everywhere, the building industry is booming. It's becoming busier, especially during holidays, but the sun and moon still put on a special show and if you have to be somewhere I think this is a better place than most.

The motorhome is now 15 years old and has done over 220,000km. Easy kilometers, mostly highway, no ducking around to the local shops for milk and bread but she is needing more and more attention. But finally, the maintenance is done! Annual inspection passed! Rego and insurance paid for another year, and we are good to go again.