b' Club SpotlightBuchan bushfire volunteer weekendGippsland 4WD Clubco-ordinate massive bushfirerecovery responseClub President Andy Holland tells how from small beginnings came a great community response to help fire victims.In the months leading up to New Years nights. With no fishing gear on board, it need at that time.Day 2020, I had watched each night on was a struggle to stay active and do When I returned home from that shortthe news the devastation the bushfires things through the day. The wind didnt trip, I did not unpack my truck as I felt Iwere doing in New South Wales, help either during the day as it was very would be using all this camping gearQueensland and then in our own back gusty being on the coast. again in a couple of weeks.yard up around Bairnsdale. There was We packed up and headed home after I was straight onto the committee withno end in sight and they had been a few days and again I found myself lis- my idea and they all felt it was a greatgoing for weeks and months in some tening to the news and where the fires idea. With that, a post was put out onareas. I knew this would limit the areas had struck up aroundBairnsdale and our public Facebook page and therewe could camp and enjoy the bush and the Buchan area. was strong support there from the fol-especially the High Country over the At this time the Club had nothing in our lowers of our page.Christmas break and into 2020.calendar for the Australia Day weekend. My aim was to get around 40 membersA small group of us attempted to camp I then felt that would be a good time for and volunteers together for the Aussieup around the Licola area in the first us to get together and also put it out Day weekend. Over the next two weeksweek of January 2020 only to have it there for volunteers to head up towards I almost lived on the computer answer-locked down due to the fires and Buchan and assist with some of the ing peoples questions and building thepotential threat of fires in that area. I clean up over that weekend. I felt what numbers I needed for this exercise.wasnt going home so we hit the Ninety better way to spend Australia Day week- On Thursday 16 January 2020, I decidedMile Beach instead for a couple of end than to help our fellow Aussies in18 MARCH2020 TRACKWATCH'