More help for fire victims

Bindoon-based Australian Premium Feeds was among the many who donated time and resources to help fire-ravaged farms in Northcliffe for livestock recently.

Owners Jamie and Dale Turner sent a truckload of feed to victims and said they were glad to support fellow farmers.

"As we are farmers from a marginal area ourselves, we are accustomed to chipping in and helping farmers in need," Mrs Turner said.

The company's donation comprised 30 bales of compressed oaten hay (750kg), 18 bags of compressed oaten chaff (450kg), five 5ft rolls of lucerne hay, and 34 5ft rolls of oaten hay.

The feed was transported by Terry and Dustin McDonald, of Bullsbrook-based McDonald's Transport Services. Shell Bullsbrook chipped in 200 litres of fuel for the trip.

Mrs Turner said she was proud to help and said her family had a history of stepping in when someone was in trouble.

The donation was one of many coordinated by the Manjimup-based Southern Forests Food Council.

Southern produce co-ordinator John Kilrain said thousands of rolls of hay had been donated and support had come from many transport companies.

Mr Kilrain was pleased the Southern Forests Food Council had been able to quickly support its members in the wake of the fire.

"We have a lot of members from Northcliffe, Manjimup and Walpole and, when they get into trouble, we have to look after them - it is as simple as that," he said.

Going forward, rebuilding fencing was a big challenge.

But Mr Kilrain had been contacted by a group of Victorian retirees who had volunteered to help out.

Mr Kilrain said he hoped substantial support would also come from the State and Federal Government for South-West farmers affected by the fires. He said the food council did not really have the resources for co-ordinating ongoing disaster support for farmers after the fires, but it did its best and had a can-do approach.

The food council initially emailed its members calling for livestock feed and then posted information on Facebook, which had been a fast way to spread the message that help was needed.