BLAZEAID, a volunteer–based organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods, is seeking more people to assist them.

Working alongside the rural families, BlazeAid volunteers help to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.

Volunteers also help to lift the spirits of people who are often facing their second or third flood event after years of drought, or devastating losses through bushfires. BlazeAid volunteers work in a disaster–affected area for many months, not only helping individuals and families, but also helping rebuild the local communities.

Ian and Karen, the co–ordinators of Seymour Blaze Aid, have spoken about the need for more volunteers to provide assistance after the recent floods.

"The greatest need we have at the moment is recruiting enough volunteers to match the number of requests for assistance that we have received," they said.

"We currently have just over 30 properties on our register seeking assistance, and currently only have five volunteers registered at the base camp, which means we can only help one property at a time.

"Some properties require a couple of days work, so we're well behind on the goal of helping as many people in a short amount of time, rather than spending the next three months helping farmers with one team at a time.

"We have capacity to send out five teams on any given day if we have the volunteers registered at camp, which would make a big impact if we could recruit enough volunteers to help out for a day or two, a week or more."

They spoke about the work involved and how everyday people can volunteer and make a difference.

"Some volunteers stay for a couple of weeks, to gain fencing experience so they can then train up other new recruits," they said.

"It's sort of a chain reaction, and the end result is to relieve pressure and stress on those seeking our assistance.

"For example, with flood damage, it can be quite depressing looking at the debris covered fences each day, and some property owners feel so overwhelmed that they just don't know where or how to make a start.

"However, when they hear we have a team willing to help, it gives them a much needed boost of energy and motivation, and lifts their morale to the point that they are able to cope much better, especially when the end result has been achieved.

"We're working in three Shires (Murrindindi, Mitchell & Strathbogie) making our tasks a much bigger area to cover.

"Some volunteers choose to come for day trips from their places of residence, while others choose to come and camp onsite where we provide three meals a day, hot showers etc.

"Volunteers just need to arrange their own accommodation, but we do have a couple of other options if accommodation is difficult to organise.

"We recently had a new volunteer join us after seeing one of our posters, and on his second day out in the field, he felt great satisfaction with seeing the work we achieved to help someone else, and the difference it made."

The greatest need for BlazeAid volunteers is currently in the Seymour area, with interested people able to contact Ian and Karen at 0484 942 753 or go to www.blazeaid.com.au.

No experience is needed.