Our Last Day Helping with Fencing / myLot

Rockingham, Australia

February 1, 2016 3:05am CST

This is my first post for today although I've done quite a bit of commenting and responding. We left home at 7.45am to drive to Yarloop and help remove burnt fences from one of the farms that were so badly affected by the recent bushfires in south-west Western Australia. We spent three days a week ago doing the same thing and today was the last day. Farmers will now bring in fencing contractors to put in new fences. On Saturday afternoon we went to a benefit concert featuring organ players and a mezzo-soprano. One of the men who lost everything was an organ-builder who Vince knew. The guy had worked on an organ at a Perth school while Vince was bursar there. The concert would benefit him and others from Yarloop. There was a very large crowd and organisers were staggered by the response. We stayed behind and washed and dried dishes while chatting with a very old friend who we hadn't seen for ages. We thought of subscribing to the Lord Mayor's Appeal Fund but have since found out that farmers may not receive any benefits from this fund. As things stand at the moment, only those who lost houses will be helped. As no farm-houses were lost, no grants will be made to farmers. We think this is grossly unfair as there is a lot of infrastructure that has been burnt - sheds, livestock, irrigation pipes, etc. There is to be a meeting with the Lord Mayor tomorrow. If the situation isn't changed, we'll find some other way to help. It must be very difficult to distribute funds equitably after a disaster, don't you think?

16 people like this

12 responses

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

1 Feb 16

I love the idea of everyone rallying around to offer support, which is the sign of an excellent community.

4 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 16

The guy who co-ordinated us has done it before when there were similar really destructive fires further south last summer. He said he was inundated with offers of help

2 people like this

Boingboing

@boiboing (13147)

• Northampton, England

1 Feb 16

It's always wise to check the scope of such charities to make sure the money is going where you would want it to.

4 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 16

We are getting more and more cagey about giving donations. We often wait a while now and choose more carefully where we'll give.

1 person likes this

Marlina

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

1 Feb 16

That was very generous of you to take part in the helping.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 16

The co-ordinator had a marvellous response once the call went out. It was nice to be part of it.

Anna

@LadyDuck (502162)

• Italy

1 Feb 16

You are doing an excellent work in your community. This is so much better than donate money not knowing where it will be spent.

2 people like this

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Anna

@LadyDuck (502162)

• Italy

2 Feb 16

@JudyEv Your 7 days labour was surely worth more than a few hundred dollars. When you call someone to do the work, even only one full day is pretty expensive.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 16

@LadyDuck That's what we thought too so we don't feel so bad about not giving a lot of money to the various funds.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 16

We think so too. We don't have a lot of cash to spare but 7 days labour between us is worth quite a few hundred dollars. They would have had to employ someone to do the work that the volunteers did.

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AbbyGreenhill

@AbbyGreenhill (45490)

• United States

1 Feb 16

We all have to be careful who we donate our hard earned money too.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 16

At least the Lord Mayor's Fund gives all the money to those in need. Nothing is spent on administration. The City of Perth absorbs admin cost. It's just that 'those in need' may be only a select group.

1 person likes this

Jillybean1222

@jillybean1222 (6406)

•

1 Feb 16

that does seem unfair

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 16

We thought so too. The townsfolk lost everything too but few had even contents insurance and their houses are old wooden structures that wouldn't stand a chance in a fire.

1 person likes this

Lee Ka

@kaka135 (14994)

• Malaysia

3 Feb 16

Won't the fencing contractors do the removing burnt fences part before they put on the new fences? Or will they charge higher if they do the removing task? Good that all the jobs have done, and the farmers will have new fences soon. I think the loss of infrastructure should be covered as well. It seems that it can be so difficult for the farmers.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Feb 16

I guess the contractors would do it but they would charge full rates for the work. Now that volunteers have cleared the fence-lines, contractors will be able to get fences erected much more speedily.

Morning Girl

@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

1 Feb 16

I hope the meeting will turn out favorable. The farmers deserved some help too.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 16

There will be some angry people around if all the help just goes to a few.

1 person likes this

Judy Story

@jstory07 (148712)

• Roseburg, Oregon

2 Feb 16

The funds should be given to anyone who loss something. that would be the fair way.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 16

The farmers should at least get something.

frances r

@Dragonairy1 (1722)

• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England

2 Feb 16

I think councils and governments seem to prioritise houses with people living in them who vote. I know there was a fuss made here when we had the floods last year, as a lot of the money was promised to the communities who were on tv. It's a shame as like you say infrastructure and livelihoods can cost more in the long run.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 16

When you have nothing left, you would be depending on funds if they had been promised in the media reports. And then to not get them would be another blow.