Helping out those in need

**Travis Edwards** · 27th October 2009, 09:09 PM

Recently I have been travelling through the black saturday ravaged areas of narbethong, buxton, maryville etc. And have seen many log trucks carrying large logs out of the burnt areas. These guys are logging it and reclaiming something from the ashes and although I can see the benefit and the necessity of what they are doing I have also seen a lot of timber both between narbethong and warburton and all through the black spur That the timber companies will not touch and will be left go to waste. The reasons for this would be accessability, mostly, Greenies secondly. I see this timber chokeing waterways etc. and think to myself that It would be well within the realms of folks with alaskans and lucas mills to mill into lumber both structural and for fencing etc. in situ. It then also makes me think of all of the people who are struggling to rebuild their HOMES and fences which held the livestock which put food on their table, and wonder if in some way it would be possible to organise a group to mill some of what will be wasted and become another long term problem to the area, and possibly donate it back to help those in need. This is my call to those who have saws of any description to get on board. I have seen first hand what A LOT of very good people are going through and I believe that a lot of good could be done by a few in a few weekends.

I understand That we would probably need government approval to be able to do anything in these areas so If you believe you may be able to help leave a reply here along the lines of I'm in, and If enough names appear We may be able to get clearance to help those who need it, and help with th ecological problems left by the fires.

Travis.

**weisyboy** · 27th October 2009, 09:18 PM

pitty i wasnt a bit closer.

i would be happy to dontate a week of my time and my lucas to a good cause.

someoen wann dontate teh fuel for my ute to drive down.

**Travis Edwards** · 27th October 2009, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by weisyboy

pitty i wasnt a bit closer.

i would be happy to dontate a week of my time and my lucas to a good cause.

someoen wann dontate teh fuel for my ute to drive down.

I would If I could carl, and I hope that maybe if some of the fuel companies got wind of what I am trying to achieve here would get on board and that they would help out. I am willing to donate what time and resources I have to the cause. This would include time lobbying government for clearance etc. and organising something to happen. I drove through there tonight and saw LOTS of very big logs and even more not so big logs which have fallen which could be easily turned into a valuable resource for many, which will end up creating ecological problems for years to come if nothing is done and just thought that this would be a way to make a difference. It would be totally NON-PROFIT and the only possible outcome would be a bit of praise for those who helped.

**Travis Edwards** · 27th October 2009, 09:37 PM

I have travelled through the area quite a few times recently and people who had nice homes etc. are now living in tents and caravans or small demountables if they are lucky. There are timber mills, Roadhouses etc. which have been burnt to nothing and even now several months on, progress towards rebuilding has not been "great". A lot of fences have been rebuilt but there is still a hell of a long way to go. sure we could all donate cash to the cause but cash only does so much, if we put lumber into peoples hands they can start to build stuff.

**tlbsg** · 27th October 2009, 10:37 PM

i was among a group of 20 or so blokes who went up there to Narbethong a month after the fires to donate some time to what was left of that town and its residents 14 bobcats 3 backhoes and a few chippies sad to see what happened but very rewarding to help out lots and lots of timber down as said went back a few weeks later and took my mill up and set up and rebuilt a bridge on a property which was burnt out so the land owner could access the other parts of her property

**pjt** · 27th October 2009, 10:54 PM

Hi Travis,

for what u r trying to achieve, Id be in but for the distance away, keep us updated on the possibility of anything happening.
Peter

**Travis Edwards** · 27th October 2009, 10:57 PM

Good to hear TLB!! I would estimate the amount of timber down to be in the millions of cubic metres. This timber down, after the rains we have had lately, is causing serious choking of waterways and other problems and could be a valuable resource to the people of the area. Like most Aussies I am not someone who can reach into my pocket and make the problems go away but I DO have a chainsaw and a bit of ability when it comes to cutting lumber, building things and fixing fences etc. and just think that it is a crying shame to see how much timber is lying there going to waste when there are so many people within a stones throw of it struggling to live.

**Travis Edwards** · 27th October 2009, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by pjt

Hi Travis,

for what u r trying to achieve, Id be in but for the distance away, keep us updated on the possibility of anything happening.
Peter

Will do peter. and as I say hopefully some of the fuel companies etc. will get wind of it and make it possible to do something bigger.

**Sigidi** · 28th October 2009, 11:56 AM

Don't know if anybody knows this....but...

Lucas Mill have been doing this for awhile already.

They have arranged for 4 separate mills in 3 different locations to be available to bushfire victims to use free of charge. There is 2 model 8's, 1 model 6 and the model which is available at Lucas HQ is dependent upon what they have at the time. The mills are provided free of charge, users are required to supply their own fuel, but if blades need re-tipping during use, a deal has been made with Central Saws and they are providing the blade work free of charge as well!!!

Attachment 120589

This is a pic from 2010 calender showing one of the donated mills being used to recover timber, it was taken about 4 weeks after the fires happened. When talking to Warren about it, (getting permission to reproduce the pic)and as an example of how devastating the fires where, he told me the fallen trees in the picture aren't from a storm, they are from the wind created by the heat of the fire being so strong. I know the quality of my pic isn't so great - just used my phone to photo the calender, but in the background you still see smoke hanging around too.

Warren mentioned they have had somewhere close to 60 people use the free mills and at the time was thinking he'd keep the offer going until sometime next year.

Now all you guys who reckon I'm a bit over the top about my Lucas and how great the company has been over the five years I've had dealings with them, you gotta agree - they are a bloody good set of people.

I Love my Lucas

**bobsreturn2003** · 28th October 2009, 04:46 PM

GREAT TO SEE AUSSIES HELPING EACH OTHER OUT

WELL DONE

**Travis Edwards** · 28th October 2009, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Sigidi

Don't know if anybody knows this....but...

Lucas Mill have been doing this for awhile already.

They have arranged for 4 separate mills in 3 different locations to be available to bushfire victims to use free of charge. There is 2 model 8's, 1 model 6 and the model which is available at Lucas HQ is dependent upon what they have at the time. The mills are provided free of charge, users are required to supply their own fuel, but if blades need re-tipping during use, a deal has been made with Central Saws and they are providing the blade work free of charge as well!!!

Attachment 120589

This is a pic from 2010 calender showing one of the donated mills being used to recover timber, it was taken about 4 weeks after the fires happened. When talking to Warren about it, (getting permission to reproduce the pic)and as an example of how devastating the fires where, he told me the fallen trees in the picture aren't from a storm, they are from the wind created by the heat of the fire being so strong. I know the quality of my pic isn't so great - just used my phone to photo the calender, but in the background you still see smoke hanging around too.

Warren mentioned they have had somewhere close to 60 people use the free mills and at the time was thinking he'd keep the offer going until sometime next year.

Now all you guys who reckon I'm a bit over the top about my Lucas and how great the company has been over the five years I've had dealings with them, you gotta agree - they are a bloody good set of people.

I Love my Lucas

Damn good to hear! Thanks to the guys at lucas.

**Travis Edwards** · 28th October 2009, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by bobsreturn2003

GREAT TO SEE AUSSIES HELPING EACH OTHER OUT

WELL DONE

Post number 500 there I see bob dont you qualify for a container of u-beaut when ya get there?

**SiJ** · 28th October 2009, 07:17 PM

Great idea Travis! Would be keen to help in some small way - only have an 034S & small CSM I knocked up last weekend

, but would be willing to muck in and support some of the bigger rigs etc.....
Cheers
Si

**Travis Edwards** · 28th October 2009, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by SiJ

Great idea Travis! Would be keen to help in some small way - only have an 034S & small CSM I knocked up last weekend

, but would be willing to muck in and support some of the bigger rigs etc.....
Cheers
Si

Good to hear, and hey there is nothing wrong with an 034 they are good saws.

**Travis Edwards** · 27th November 2009, 08:49 PM

Things have gone a bit quiet I would still like this to happen I went through the area in the last week and still want to see a few people volunteer their time and expertise. This is for a good cause and is something that I feel people should embrace. we all give our kids new toys for christmas wouldn't it be nice to give something to those in need to brighten their xmas?

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