Noticeboard - Week One

15.02.09 - One week on:

Countless horses/ponies, cattle, and even pigs have been relocated to safe temporary homes, and to Equine Vets by our wonderful network of volunteers.
We have tried to follow the fallout of the fires in establishing secure and supervised points where deliveries of feed can be left, and from which affected horse owners can collect. T.R.E.W representatives are also trying to find and deliver to those in need of these supplies, as many of them are without transport.
We are still relocating animals, but the focus over the past few days has been upon sourcing the particular immediate needs of horse owners and getting them delivered.

As of last Sunday, the entire Committee was absolutely swamped in taking calls and coordinating relief and urgent relocations. The initial offers of transport, agistment, professional care, feed etc. came from the Equine community, but we hope that over the coming month’s business and companies who are in a position to support will join the Equine community in doing so.

We were totally unprepared for an emergency of this scale, and from the minute the scope of this disaster became obvious, the members of the TREW committee have given their all towards this relief effort. We have also to thank some individuals including Kay Barney, Abbey Kay, Page Coulson, and Mandy Jones, whose contribution has been critical, and we thank you for the depth that your work has added to our ability to respond.

14.02.09

A couple of shots from one of the drop offs today:

This chaff was paid for by an amazing group of individuals in the Hunter Valley region NSW, co-ordinated by Belinda at Yarraman Park. Together, they contributed almost $6000, which bought us 250 bags of chaff from Drysdales Mill in Yellingbo.

Drysdale's is a family owned and run business, who had a few days earlier donated free of charge, 50 bags of chaff which went directly to horses in need. Thank you to Paul from Drysdales, who transported this load to Bendigo for us today.

A huge thank you to Belinda, her friends/associates, and Drysdales.

Volunteer Chris Vickers, who rented a trailer and drove over to Drysdales Mill to pick up 50 of the 250 bags of chaff. He then took these directly to Woodstock, where feed is being taken onto horse properties in the Whittlesea area by a TREW Representative, Sammi Whitehead. Great effort Chris, thank you so much!

13.02.09

Thanks Leigh, for these pics, and of course the transport!


Maya & Peter of Ricnor Park see off their Hay donation. Their 100 bales of hay were delivered to Bayles CFA, and then distributed to a property in Labertouche.
The recipient had lost everything, house, sheds, machinery, etc. Thank you so much to Maya & Peter, and to all the kind donors of today.

More activity at Bayles CFA


The landscape at Labertouche

13.02.09

Thank you to Jenny Andrews, supporter of Bush Capital Horse Rescue, has been so moved by the loss and anguish horse owners are undergoing in Victoria that she has donated a float! The float has left Canberra today bound for Victoria, loaded full of donated gear, including almost 100 brand new rugs, (fly mesh, rain sheets, mid-season, winter). The donations have been coordinated by Andrew of BCHR, through tireless work and the generousity of many Canberra based clubs and businesses.

When the dust has settled, it will be T.R.E.W's pleasure to ensure that this gift is passed on to a horse owner who has lost everything. We are sure that Jenny hopes that aside from being a very practical gift, that the recipient will understand the caring that goes with it. Thank you from all of us to Jenny for this very personal and valuable contribution.

12.02.09

From Rebecca Tedder:

"Today was amazing. We had around 15 floats all lined up in Whittlesea ready to go. The mission....... collect/save the horses/animals. We had people with us gravely concerned about the welfare of their beloved horses.

I just wanted to thank all the people that helped me today. Without you all, I don't know what I would have done. So on behalf of myself, Pet's Haven and Triple R Equine Welfare I thank you. I have been honoured to meet you all and work along side you. You were all amazing how you pulled together, used your floats and loaded up horses to take to safety.

Sammi - you are a legend and thank you to your wonderful boss for opening up their property to take care of these wonderful creatures. I must admit, I shed a few tears with the devastation and cannot comprehend what people that lived there went through. It was honestly like a horrible dream. The light for me was the beautiful little filly from Dude Ranch that was not at all interested in allowing us to catch it. It took me some time, patience and calmness to finally reach this little darling and have it trust me enough to put the rope around its neck and lead it to safety. Yes I am crying again."

12.02.09

Just some of the successful link ups facilitated by TREW between those calling for help and those who have offered it:

• Sarah under threat from Bunyip & Healsville fires possibly merging. Put her onto Elise in Wantirna and Laura at Wonga Park, who both helped move her horses to safety.
• Michelle also under threat from same fire. Put her in contact with Catherine in Lilydale to prepare for possible evacuation.
• Kylie in Yellingbo also under threat from same fire. Put her in contact with Cathy in Wonga Park for possible evacualtion.
• Person from the Yarra Ranges who had already relocated their horse to Werribee, to be safe from the fire areas, but needed to move it as it was very short term accomodation. Linked her up with several other options in the Werribee area.
• Person in Hoddles Creek under threat. Had QH's, minis/foals/stallions across two properties wanting to evaculate. Linked them to 3 possible offers of assistance to call Joanne in Wandin East, Catherine in Lilydale and Darren & Adele in Seville East. This was a little tricky because of the logistics of transporting the stallions, so they needed several options.
• Person in Yarra Valley wanted to evaculate. Linked with offer from Mornington Peninsula.
• Jenny in Upper Yarra Valley under threat. Wanted to evacuate. Found a place in Bayswater on our register as it is near where she works, so linked her up with Abbey in Bayswater.
• Tracy in Glenburn has mares with foals that all survived, but paddocks burnt out and in need of feed. Linked her up with Peter in Wandin East who organised to transport some of his donated hay to her.
• Kate in Glenburn has 18 surviving horses in need of feed. Linked her up with Kim to collect hay from John in Yarra Valley and transport to her.
• Bronwyn from Highlands called in desperate need of transporters and bagged feed to send out to affected horses. Linked her up with Ronnie of the Hurstbridge ARC who had offered a network of helpers. (This has since grown into a major drop off/pick up point.)
• Tori from Greensborough Feeds needed someone to pick up 50 bales in Yan Yean and buckets from Whittlesea and deliver all to Yea. Put her in contact with Ronnie of Hurstbridge ARC and her network of transporters.
• Person in Kinglake was linked up with Anne in Macclesfield to relocate surviving horses.
• Candice in Phesant Creek was getting reports that her friend's horse was coghing and wheezing. Was able to send vet there who reported horse was fine and in good health, being fed and watered. Linked Candice with Sammi in case she decided she wanted to bring the horse to an unburnt area.
• Margot in Labertouche rang us absolutely beside herself about her two burnt Clydies that needed urgent transport to Werribee. This was early evening and she figured the best she would be able to get would be next morning. Put the call out to Belinda in Werribee with a network of racehorse transports, who was able to organise transport within the hour.
• Six horses and two pigs relocated from the approaching fires at Badgers Creek.
• One Clydesdale (burned) moved from Yallourn North to Melb Uni Vet Hosp at Werribee with the assistance of local Vets. and transported by Billy Campbell of Kooweerup (Professional - Horse Transporter) NO fee.
• Eight cows and calves relocated from fire front at Dixons creek as VFF unable to help in time.
• One TB gelding relocated from fire front at Millgrove to safety.

11.02.09 - Update from Dr. Jude

Vet Update from Kinglake:

TREW's regular Vet, Dr. Jude Mulholland is working with the vets of the Kinglake Clinic to locate and treat sick and injured animals. As the Kinglake clinic was lost in the fires, they are working from a temporary base. They are well stocked with feed for all animals including cats & dogs, however, Jude says that we need to continue to stockpile feed supplies as there are just so many areas that are still not opened up. Jude described the painstakingly slow process of getting down little roads and lanes to find out what was there needing their attention. To make sure we can cater for the needs of these other communities in the days ahead, we will continue to stockpile feed and supplies.

11.02.09

Thank you to Andrew Hennell and his members & supporters of the Bush Capital Horse Rescue in Canberra. Andrew has worked tirelessly for the last few days co-ordinating a truck load of hay (380 bales) due to land in town tonight.....and pictured below are two pallets that left Canberra this afternoon destined for our drop zone in Cottles Bridge.

Just some of the items on board are :
3 Boxes of First Aid supplies from Canberra Vet Hospital to be used by Vets on site
5 Boxes of Wound Dressings & Lotions, wraps & bandages
1 Box of Tuff Tubs
Plus... many more boxes of much needed supplies

Congratulations to all involved on an amazing group effort!

Fire Relief