BlazeAid donation to support fire-affected communities

Published on 27 January 2022

West Wimmera Shire Council will donate $30,000 to BlazeAid to assist those affected by the Poolaijelo fires.

At a special meeting on Thursday, Council decided to donate the money to BlazeAid to install an air-conditioner at the Edenhope Showground’s pavilion.

The remaining money from the donation will be available for BlazeAid to use within the community, at its discretion.

On 31 December 2021, fires consumed the Poolaijelo-Langkoop area after a car caught fire on the Victorian/South Australian border.

Although there was no loss of human life or houses, more than 7000 hectares and about 5500 stock was lost.

Mayor Bruce Meyer said Council had already mobilised resources to assist affected landholders.

This assistance included the provision of a mobile toilet/shower trailer for three months at the BlazeAid base camp at the Edenhope showgrounds.

Also, in conjunction with Agriculture Victoria, Council arranged a drop-in day at the Poolaijelo Hall to connect impacted residents with various service providers including Agriculture Victoria, Uniting Wimmera, Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria West, BlazeAid, and the Victorian Farmers’ Federation.

Over the past few weeks, Cr Meyer has been to the fire ground and met with landowners.

“I’ve had many discussions with affected landholders – I’ve seen the trauma and the impact of the situation firsthand,” he said.

“We want to provide some support as best we can. These people need someone to lean on.

“There has been a lot of work happening already through our Rural Outreach support program. Our outreach workers have been there meeting with families.

“Hopefully this money helps provide further support for people who were affected.”

Cr Meyer said he hoped this contribution to BlazeAid would greatly benefit and assist the local community of landowners that had suffered greatly.

“BlazeAid is a wonderful organisation that have done great things in our shire already,” he said.

“Hopefully, this allows their great work to continue in our communities.”

Cr Meyer said a condition of the donation was that it had to be spent within the shire.

BlazeAid is a volunteer organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters. The volunteers help to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.