Generous community members recovering from the Pinery blaze have helped strengthen the state’s response to fire in the future.
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![Mid North locals Dylan Stodart, Butch Algar, Ella Brechin, Heather Curnow, Michael Scharman and Jock Brechin present the donation of $120,000 to BlazeAid camp coordinators John Lillico, Hamley Bridge, and Wendy Cope, Roseworthy. The funds will go towards setting up six new trailers. Mid North locals Dylan Stodart, Butch Algar, Ella Brechin, Heather Curnow, Michael Scharman and Jock Brechin present the donation of $120,000 to BlazeAid camp coordinators John Lillico, Hamley Bridge, and Wendy Cope, Roseworthy. The funds will go towards setting up six new trailers.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/b703178d-42b8-4150-8747-6cc026469662.JPG/r0_827_4896_3580_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
In mid December the community at Long Plains held an local event, including a cricket game, to raise local spirits following the fire.
While it was not initially meant as a fundraiser, donations started coming in, with $120,000 raised to go towards bushfire recovery charity BlazeAid.
BlazeAid’s Roseworthy camp coordinator Wendy Cope said the event was a impressive effort, especially considering the heat wave of the time.
“It’s just incredible the way it all came together,” she said.
Ms Cope said the donation would be used to purchase six new trailers for BlazeAid, to be based in SA.
“That will extend our fleet,” she said.
“Up until now we’ve only had enough for one trailer, which we immediately had to split for two camps.”
Ms Cope said initially BlazeAid was funded with Vic funds, but the new trailers with be built and stocked in Gawler, and kept within SA.
“Everything bought here in SA, with SA money, stays here in SA,” she said.
“Once the Pinery camps are over the trailers will be stored throughout the state because we never know where they will be needed next.”
Ms Cope said the community has already been very generous, with funds and time.
“We’ve had really good coverage from volunteers, with lots of day trippers,” she said.
“But we’re very aware of the fact that people are starting to forget the fires.”
Ms Cope said the BlazeAid work incorporated more fencing, with some clearing still to do.
There are two BlazeAid camps in the Pinery region.
To get involved in either, call 0412 815 800 for the Hamley Bridge camp or 0467 999 909 for Roseworthy.