Visitors help in fire zone

By Kath Gannaway
THEY’RE doing work which would test the staying power of men half their age, but New South Wales retirees Norm Full, Neville Ainsley and Arthur Davis have proved age is no barrier when there’s someone in need.
Members of St Matthew’s Anglican Church in West Pennant Hills, the men have worked as volunteers in the past with the Anglican Bush Church Aid Society.
Neville who worked in insurance, Norm, formerly a hospital administrator and Arthur, who worked as a carpenter, have been out at John Riddell’s fire-ravaged Chum Creek property cutting up branches and smaller trees ready to be mulched.
They are working on slippery slopes (and that’s not a reference to their age or ability!) but they say they just put their trust in God and get on with the job.
“We get a bit quiet by the afternoon,” conceded Norm, but in their second week on the job, there was no sign their enthusiasm to see out their full two-week commitment was anything but robust.
For men who came down prepared to camp out, they say having a roof over their heads and great meals served up every night, is also keeping body and soul together. Healesville Anglican Church members Gerry and Elizabeth Maile, have billeted the work crew and are not only enjoying the interaction, but are happy to be doing their bit to help as well.
Mr Riddell said he could not speak too highly of the men, the second lot of volunteers he had had helping out.
“They just got in and did the job; they could not have been more helpful,” he said.
“They’re great guys who really enjoyed their involvement and were happy to be able to help.”
Mr Riddell said he was now looking forward to being able to put some mulch around the burnt ground and getting some new plants in the ground.
“Like most of us here, we chose to live in that environment because we loved the outlook and the trees,” he said.
“We still want that environment but the reality has hit home that we now have to plan a bit better to do that.”