RRT Gives Fencing Wire to Ruffy Farmers on the Road from Ruin to Rebuilding
RRT has praised the Victorian community of Ruffy for its resilience after a bushfire tore through the township, as it donated 215 kilometres of fencing wire to assist rebuilding efforts.
RRT volunteers loaded up five semi-trailers with 115 tonnes of galvanised fencing wire and travelled up to 700km to Ruffy ahead of its Farmers Community Connect event.
RRT General Manager Mick Dunn said 233 farmers attended the FCC event at Ruffy Hall, enjoying a free barbeque with their families and friends before heading home with a share of the donated wire.
It was an emotional journey into Ruffy for our volunteers before this morning’s event – the Longwood bushfire in January destroyed so much and there is a long road to recovery ahead.
RRT was in Ruffy cooking up meals for firefighters and the community during the fire emergency and we knew we wanted to come back and do what we could to help them rebuild.
RRT is in awe of the fighting spirit of Ruffy residents – and today’s event hopefully helped boost their morale, share a laugh or a smile during a rough time, and remind them they aren’t alone.
Farmers were also able to connect with rural support services on site.
"I am absolutely amazed and so appreciative of the Rapid Relief Team. For some of these farmers its the first time off the farm in seven weeks. It is an uplifting experience and so nice for them to take home something new to help them start rebuilding."
Cr Scott Jeffery
Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor
Since 2018 RRT has held 35 FCC events supporting around 5,800 Aussie farmers impacted by fire, flood or drought.
