Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Deputy Premier John Barilaro presented a $5,000 cheque to BlazeAid volunteers in Inverell yesterday.
Friday, 28 June 2019
FOR more than five months BlazeAid volunteers from across Australia have been working tirelessly, helping local farmers to rebuild fences destroyed by the devastating Tingha Plateau bushfire, and now the NSW Government is lending them a hand with a $5,000 grant to purchase additional fencing equipment.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall and Deputy Premier John Barilaro surprised BlazeAid fencing teams at Inverell Showground yesterday, dropping in to announce the funding and hand over the cheque.
Mr Marshall said $5,000 was a small contribution compared to the time, work and effort put in by BlazeAid volunteers to help the district’s farmers get back on their feet.
“If it wasn’t for BlazeAid many local landholders would still be wondering how they were going to pay for fencing equipment, let alone find the time to rebuild their boundary fences,” Mr Marshall said.
“Without fences, armrest cannot keep the stock they have, keep feral animals and pests out or restock their places when conditions turn around.
“With so much work to do BlazeAid co-ordinator Tony Samuel has been struggling to keep up the supply of posts, wire and netting to his teams and so approached me for some help.
“This grant will specifically allow BlazeAid to purchase strainer posts and stays, items which are expensive and have been in short supply making it difficult for fencing teams to complete their projects.
“On behalf of the community, I thank Tony and all the volunteers for their work, some who have travelled as far as Western Australia and Tasmania to lend a hand,” he said.
Mr Barilaro said it was a privilege to meet with the more than 30 BlazeAid volunteers.
“Large scale boundary fencing can be one of the most expensive operations a farmer can undertake, so it’s heartening to know when a disaster like the Tingha Plateau Fire does strike, there is an organisation like BlazeAid there to pick up the burden,” Mr Barilaro said.
“BlazeAid organisers have told me they will keep the camp in Inverell running into August and I would urge anyone who is yet to contact them for help to please do so.”