Team Rubicon Disaster Relief have set up camp in Willawarrin to assist locals in the clean up following the devastating Carrai East bushfire.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The volunteers of Team Rubicon are made up of military and emergency service veterans who utilise their skills and experience to aid in the clean up following disasters such as fires and floods.
The group of 22 volunteers have been on the ground in Willawarrin for around four days and public relations officer Deborah Fenton said the team are making progress.
"The main tasks the team have been doing is chainsaw work and clearing trees as well as sifting through properties for war medals and valuables," she said.
"Even just going to people's homes and talking to them and listening can sometimes really help."
The current team of 22 volunteers will stay in Willawarrin for a week before another group will take over.
"In our next lot of volunteers we have four from Norway coming to help. Each lot of 22 will stay for eight days before we bring in a new team," Deborah said.
"Locals have been very welcoming. In a small town and seeing 22 people come into a pub all wearing the same shirt can be a lot.
"Lifting locals spirits is something we try and do, even if that's just talking to someone over a meal or helping clear their property of fallen trees."
Team Rubicon will stay in the area until the end of next week when they asses their number of volunteers and work load before deciding if they are needed for a longer period of time.
"Today teams are working at a 93-year-old woman's home where a tree has fallen down and another team is sifting through a property at Bellbrook to search for war medals."
Team Rubicon provide a number of services including:
- Burnt vegetation and debris removal
- Hazard mitigation
- Chainsaw operations
- Sifting of destroyed structures for valuables
- Welfare checks
- Aerial damage assessments and mapping
- Spontaneous volunteer management
- Fencing and irrigation repairs
If you have been impacted by the Carrai East bushfire and need assistance from Team Rubicon, contact the team directly on (02) 9158 9380.
Team Rubicon has also partnered with Your Local Club and 2GB for the Litres for the Land appeal.
Through club fundraising activities and public donations, water will be purchased transported to the bush, and provided for free to farms and families that need it the most. To donate to Litres for the Land visit the website.
Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Macleay Argus newsletter here.
Also making the news:
