The gift of green: SHASA provides fruit trees to bushfire survivors

The Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) is giving the gift of green, providing fruit trees to residents of 42 bushfire-impacted properties across the Eurobodalla.

The fruit-tree distribution was made possible by a $5000 Vinnies Bushfire Recovery grant and the support of local nurseries.

Bushfire-affected residents, from areas including Mogo, Bimbimbie, Jeramandra, Eurobodalla and Nerrigundah, recently collected the citrus trees, supplied by Greenlands nursery, Moruya and a diverse range of bushfoods from the South Coast Flora Nursery, Dignams Creek. Eurobodalla Shire Bushfire Recovery Centre assisted, connecting SHASA with bushfire survivors who were keen for support to re-establish their orchards.

SHASA president Kathryn Maxwell said the initiative supported not only the restoration of properties and gardens but was therapeutic and critical to the recovery process.

“Until now, little funding has been allocated to replanting lost gardens and orchards,” Ms Maxwell said. “With the Vinnies grant, SHASA is now able to address this gap. We would like to say a big thank you to Lukas Ringlands from Vinnies, for encouraging SHASA to apply for Vinnies Bushfire Recovery funding.”

Ms Maxwell said the onset of Spring was the perfect time to plant: “With the recent rains the new plants will get a good start.”

“Greenlands is giving the program a 10% discount on citrus trees – oranges, limes, lemons, mandarins and grapefruit,” Kathryn said. “And South Coast Flora Nursery is providing a wonderful diversity of native bushfood species including native raspberries, native finger limes, native guavas, sandpaper figs, plum pines, wombat berries. Exotic species including carob trees, pomegranate, bay tree, banana passionfruit, kiwifruit and feijoas – with a big discount on tube stock.”

Michelle Bonner, from Eurobodalla Bushfire Recovery Support Service, helps distribute the fruit trees