BlazeAid, a volunteer-based organisation that helps rural communities after the likes of fires and floods, has completed more than 300 kilometres of new fencing.

Donations totalling $8000 were collected by the Rotary Club of Dubbo and Metalcorp Steel, which is providing the fencing materials at significantly-reduced cost.

A lightning strike started the Sir Ivan fire on February 11 leading to the destruction of 55,000 hectares of land and 35 homes in Uarbry and surrounds.  It also damaged 5700 kilometres of fencing and killed 2000 sheep and 56 head of cattle.  The fire was officially out on March 7 after a natural disaster declaration on February 14.

Soon after the Rotarians and Metalcorp Steel’s NSW rural manager Tony Fenwick hatched a plan to help the Sir Ivan fire victims, many of them left without the means to make a living.

On Wednesday they gathered together again to nut out final details.

President of the club Sandy Birkett-Williams said all of the money raised would go to buying fencing materials needed by BlazeAid. She said initial plans to put some of it towards feeding volunteers had been dispensed with after government took on the responsibility.

“We talked about helping the Dunedoo fire victims and so we turned to the community  for support,” she said. “The crew here at Metalcorp came on board with us and through their support and through the support of the general public and businesses we’ve been able to pull together $8000. So we will now send that over to Dunedoo and Coolah in the form of fencing materials. It is another great effort from the community in supporting victims of natural disaster.”

Mr Fenwick said Metalcorp Steel’s provision of the fencing materials reflected “great relationships” with people in the communities affected by the Sir Ivan fire. He said the fire-ravaged communities were full of “Australian spirit” in their efforts to “build again and move forward”.