‘Faith in humanity restored’: Highland cattle farmer’s precious stock moved to safety by selfless volunteers

A South West cattle breeder says his faith in humanity has been restored after a trucking company and farmers helped move his cattle to safety as flames from the ferocious Donnybrook fire bore down. Nathan Perry, who lives in Perth, was dismayed to receive a phone call from a friend telling him the fire — which destroyed more than 5000ha in the Donnybrook area — was rapidly approaching his property near Charlie Creek Road. He jumped in his car to drive the 200km the farm, and was astounded to see some of his friends and two people he had never met before — Boyup Brook-based Serene Valley Transport owners Shannon and Sarah Dalton — at the farm. The Daltons had seen a call for help posted on the Ease WA Facebook page, by Mr Perry’s friend. “Within a minutes there were 30-40 comments and Serene Valley Transport had arranged to work with a friend of mine to meet me there and help,” Mr Perry said. “With the help of Sarah and Shannon, we got all of the cattle into the yards and onto the trucks. “We got the to safety just as the flames were lapping Charlie Creek and before the road was closed.” Mr Perry runs 15 Highland cattle at a 150 acre leased property and is the WA representative on the Australian Highland Cattle Society. Seven of the animals are stud cattle and the rest are commercial. Mr Perry said he had been terrified the cattle would be killed in the fire, losing his life’s joy and genetics dating back to the 1800s. He said the couple were “amazing humans” who deserved praise. “With no hesitation, wanting no fuel money or anything, they just said ‘we will be there’,” Mr Perry said, holding back tears. “It was just unreal and was a true show of Aussie spirit. “It has shown that in times of need people will come together to help someone they don’t know.” Ms Dalton said it was the first time she and her husband had evacuated stock from a bushfire situation, but knew the area well. The former Donnybrook residents moved to Boyup Brook five years ago to run a 180 acre farm. “As we were driving in, you could see the flames going across the road,” she said. “The cattle were in a good corner and we were able to access them. “They were quite friendly and pet-like so we haltered them on and they were happy to come with us.” Despite the danger, Ms Dalton said she and her husband didn’t hesitate to help evacuate the cattle. “It is in our nature… we have animals of our own,” she said. Dardanup Equestrian Center president Michael Dell’ Agostino said it was the first time the facility had housed animals escaping fire since the tragic 2016 Waroona-Yarloop bushfire, which burnt nearly 70,000ha in the South West. “For the Waroona fires we had dogs, cats and horses, but this is the first time we have cattle,” he said. “We just got the call to ask if we could take the animals and we were more than happy to help. “Anyone is welcome.” More than 100 sheep are believed to have perished in the blaze, which destroyed one home and damaged three others near Donnybrook. A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokeswoman said the State was aware of farming properties impacted in the Shires of Dardanup and Donnybrook-Balingup, including the locations of Beelerup, Mumballup and Glen Mervyn. “DPIRD appreciates this is a distressing time,” she said. “Local DPIRD staff have been in contact with a number of property owners and are working closely with Local Government and the DPIRD Incident and Emergency Management Team to provide assistance, where needed. “DPIRD continues to monitor the situation and stands ready to provide support, if requested.”