By LIAM DURKIN
COUNTRY folk doing what they do best.
Farmers across the region have extended the olive branch to those up north affected by bushfires.
With flames wiping out hectares of land and reducing paddocks to charcoal, local farmers have opened their paddocks, as well as their hearts.
Cattle trucks rolled into the Gippsland hills over the weekend, where stock from fire ravaged regions were let go to graze in green spaces generously provided by farmers – free of charge of course.
The arrangement came about through a number of farming networks, as many in the agricultural world know each other when travelling for sales or at various engagements.
Hay has also been delivered north by the truckload to help farmers in need.
Around 200 bales were freighted from South Gippsland alone, heading for Euroa.
At about 400kg per bale, it was no small donation.
The bushfires to start the year around the Yea area are among the worst in Victoria’s history.
Last Friday, estimates were of 411,000 hectares burnt and more than 15,000 livestock killed.
Strzelecki Lions Club has been one of the organisations behind a number of ‘Need for Feed’ hay runs.
“Good grassland has been burnt, with little chance of re-growth in the short term. Thousands and thousands of starving cattle and sheep need feed immediately just to stay alive,” organiser Cliff Wallace told the South Gippsland Sentinel Times.
“Then the farmers and livestock will need a lot of ongoing support to regain health, let alone thrive. We need to stay focussed on how we can support our farming community.”
Not far from Yea, about 30 kilometres east, the town of Alexandra was one of the worst-hit areas.
Local teacher and former Moe footballer Tyson Biffin grew up in Alexandra, where his parents still live.
He reported fire fighters did an outstanding job in the circumstances.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and treasurer Jaclyn Symes were given a hostile reception when visiting the town last week.
The pair faced a barrage of abuse from angry locals furious over its handling of the disaster.
The government is also under fire for alleged cuts to CFA funding, although the CFA’s 2024/25 annual report is yet to be tabled in Parliament.
“My government will always make sure that our emergency services have the funding they need to keep communities safe,” Ms Allan maintained.
The road to recovery continues.
Those wishing to donate can visit: www.needforfeed.org
