Living Here

Disaster Relief Australia continues to assist bushfire-affected residents

Rural Fire person in smokey paddock Hero Tile

A group of Disaster Relief Australia trained volunteers are currently conducting Operation Dexter to assist ongoing recovery efforts stemming from the Mount Maria and Lowmead bushfires of Dec 2019.

Disaster Relief Australia is a network of veterans, first responders and other volunteers who continue to serve through disaster relief in Australia focusing on the disaster relief space.

Launched in August 2016 as Team Rubicon Australia, the group provided great assistance for Deepwater residents in the aftermath of the bushfire which tore through the area over a two-week period in November/December 2018.

Rebranded in 2020 as Disaster Relief Australia, the team at DRA held a community meeting at Rosedale in August to gauge what level of assistance was still required from residents affected by the Mount Maria/Lowmead bushfires.

Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said the team has since returned to the area to undertake Operation Dexter, which begun on 14 October and is expected to wrap up by early next month.

“Disaster Relief Australia’s task forces are providing debris and vegetation removal, fence repairs and general cleaning efforts to affected communities,” Councillor Burnett said.

“Gladstone Regional Council witnessed DRA in action, under the name of Team Rubicon Australia, during recovery efforts following the Deepwater bushfires in 2018 and we know first-hand of the fantastic work they do.

“DRA’s current focus is on residents affected by the Mount Maria and Lowmead bushfires, but they have also reconnected with residents impacted by the Deepwater bushfires which is great to see.

“They are focussed on giving hand-ups, not hand-outs, and help assist disaster-hit residents in coordination with councils and state authorities.”

Cr Burnett said Disaster Relief Australia helped bushfire-affected residents in areas where Gladstone Regional Council representatives were unable to assist.

“Council’s assistance came via participating in a multi-agency Recovery Hub involving State Government departments, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and charitable organisations such as The Salvation Army, Australian Red Cross and Lifeline,” he said.

“Council also assisted by providing cost-free dumping of fire-damaged waste, scrap metal collection and cleaning and provision of clean water for water tanks.”

Cr Burnett reminded residents to make sure they are prepared for the upcoming storm season, citing the Queensland Government’s Get Ready website and Council’s RegionWatch website as valuable resources.

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