R.C. of Foster has been in the "frontline" with assistance to the victims of the bushfires in the Traralgon South area. Club members and partners started work on fencing/support to a 78yr old in Baloook on the 1st March, with perimeter fencing being replaced and the a follow up visit on the 5th March to complete the work.On the 10th March, volunteers once again returned to the area and assisted with clean up along the perimeter of one property and preparation for more work on the 18th March at a property in Calignee South Road, Balook. The arrangement to date has been to focus on boundary fences, with internal fences to be attended to at a later date under a different agreement.
There have been a number of ideas put forward as to how Rotary can assist the victims. One of these is that Rotary clubs "adopt" a family or road and help one group at a time. This will depend on the number of Rotarians prepared to assist and the specific nature of help that can be provided.The VFF has been proactive in appointing a coordinator to assist with the fencing work for the Traralgon South area (Ben Thexton) and volunteers from the Tasmanian Timber Industry will be arriving later this week together with equipment, to help speed up the repair of farm fencing.
A major site clean up is being planned in a few weeks time and this should provide opportunities for other Rotarians to assist. Special acknowledgement must be made to the commitment of Rotarians in the work since the 1st March: Dick Edwards, Don Nicoll, Nev Williams, Ian Griffiths, David Brook, Liz Hall and partners, Ruth Brook and Murray Dale.
