mmg.com.au

Volunteers from local Landcare groups and the Uniting Church have banded together to lend their time and support to sufferers of the recent Violet Town-Boho bushfires.

A joint collaboration between Broken Catchment Landcare Network (Gecko CLaN) and Uniting Church Benalla, the voluntary project has seen small groups of locals spend a day at local farms repairing damage caused by the bushfires.

The fires struck the area during the Australia Day long weekend, causing destruction and damage to 1400ha of land and property.

Honeysuckle Farm owners Drusilla Green and Allan O’Connor had 120ha of their Violet Town property damaged in the January 27 blaze.

While the fire did not take any of their stock or their home, it destroyed close to 90 per cent of the fencing on their property.

Although in need of the assistance, Ms Green and Mr O’Connor were overwhelmed with worries about their stock, feed, fencing and water, making it difficult to think about co-ordinating the many offers of help they had.

‘‘From a landholder’s point of view, it just made such a difference to have someone organising offers of help,’’ Ms Green said.

‘‘Violet Town businesses, DPI, CFA and Victoria Police have also been a huge help and support; it’s been excellent,’’ Ms Green said.

With the organisation of volunteers already in place, Ms Green said that anybody who wished to volunteer to help any Violet Town or Boho bushfire victims should make contact with Melanie Addinsall at Broken Catchment Landcare Network on 57611560.

To read more see today's Benalla Ensign.