by David Ashford
Rotary Batemans Bay
Well, who would have thought a random call out of the blue from Rotary would turn out to be such a wonderful project of providing 105 garden sheds to bushfire affected residents across the Eurobodalla? It all started when Oldfields, yes, the paint brush people, generously donated the sheds and a desire to get the sheds to those most affected by the bushfires. Liverpool Rotarian Barry Hancock and his daughter Meegan Atkins setup the project of getting these sheds from Sydney to the homes of our residents.
The sheds are prefabricated Colourbond Garden sheds that will be used to provide much needed dry shelter, especially over the winter months. Ideal for storing firewood, tools, pumps, machinery and anything else that needs to be kept dry. The 105 sheds have a value of $45,000.
The logistics for Batemans Bay Rotary Club was to coordinate the transport of the sheds from Oldfields, Sydney to storage in Batemans Bay. Then the task for the Narooma, Moruya and Batemans Bay Rotary Clubs was to distribute and deliver these sheds to Bushfire impacted clients as soon as was possible. The Eurobodalla Shire Council Bushfire Recovery Support Service funded the transport from Sydney and the storage of the sheds prior to distribution. Their team contacted bushfire affected residents and offered the sheds as a donation.
So, just prior to Easter 7 tons of sheds on fourteen pallets arrived on a Tattam’s truck at Batemans Bay, Storage King. Easter Sunday morning was the first pickup, bright and early and smiles on faces, some Batemans Bay Rotary volunteers and wrangled family members spent the next four hours giving out 45 Garden sheds with an Easter egg to boot. Given the boxes containing the sheds weighted up to 85kg, several workers where needed to successfully sort and load each shed. Many very happy clients thanked Oldfields, Rotary and the Bushire Recovery Support team for their kindness.
Over the next two weeks Rotarians from Moruya, Batemans Bay and Narooma delivered another 42 sheds to fire affected properties in Nelligen, Currowan, Mogo, Jeremadra, Bimbimbie, Moruya, Nerrigunda, Cadgee and Corunna. The remaining sheds have now been transported to Bodalla for distribution to fire affected residents in the area.
On completing the deliveries, David Ashford, Rotary coordinator commented … “while many residents have started rebuilding, it is disappointing to see that many are still living in tents, caravans, lean-to’s or a recovery pod. The country has bounced back after all the wet weather, but, unfortunately it will be many years before our community will be able to fully bounce back from the disaster.
We really do appreciate that people from far and wide are still thinking and caring for our community and helping out where they can. Well done, Oldfields”!
Rotarians Chris Monahan, Steve Young and Phil Smith delivering sheds in Jeremadra
President Nicole McDonald and her family loading sheds on Easter Sunday
