OPERATION CORKHILL
Eurobodalla & Bega Bushfire Recovery
Location Phase 2: Bega Valley Shire, NSW (current)
Location Phase 1: Eurobodalla Shire, NSW (completed)
STATUS: Saturday 29th May – 18 July 2021
PAUSED: 24th June, 2021 due to COVID 19
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Objective
PHASE 2 OP CORKHILL (current)
The Black Summer Fires in the Bega Valley LGA caused widespread loss: with the destruction of 465 houses, 1098 outbuildings and hundreds of other structures damaged. DRA was forced to pause fire recovery operations in March of 2020 in the Bega area with Op Ryan due to COVID-19. Work has since been able to recommence into the area with Phase 2 of Op Corkhill which is now rolling to a new AO in the Bega Valley, and is forecast to run for 4 full length waves.
PHASE 1 OP CORKHILL: February – March 2021
Disaster Relief Australia has relaunched bushfire recovery operations in the Eurobodalla Shire LGA located on the south coast of New South Wales, to continue the work in those communities who were devastated by the 2019/2020 fire season.
Operations were halted in late March due to Covid-19 restrictions, however with consultation with local and state authorities, DRA is able to recommence operations within certain areas with an adjusted format as a rolling operation featuring small targeted waves of approx 4 days duration (Thursday – Sunday) across the operation.
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News and Field Ops Reports
Community & Volunteer Reflections
A Fence at the Front of the Property Again – Bushfire Impacted Homeowner Judy
I have lived in the area for over 40 years on and off. I moved to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and lived there for nine years before coming back here. It’s our family farm of 200 acres. We, my son and daughter-in-law, left for town two days before the fire came...
Motivated Us to Action – Don and Jane
One of our biggest concerns, when the bushfires were coming, were our cattle. We wanted them to be safe, and despite everything, they all survived. No burnt hooves, none needed to be put down. The rest of the property didn’t fare so well. Our house narrowly survived...
Part of My Life Forever – Esther
It was all a bit surreal when the fires came through. It may have been 18 months ago but the feelings are all still there and quite upsetting. I remember that when I drove out of here with a few things in my caravan I didn’t realise how close it was, or how serious...
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel – Janene Love
I am 75 and had a knee replacement last year. I live here with my mother who is 96, but she will tell you she is 96 and three quarters as it is her birthday in July! My family, which included me and my two brothers, bought the property and we have lived here for 47...
Bec, Tegan and Samatha from Keno volunteered on Operation Corkhill
Joining us on Operation Corkhill were Bec, Tegan and Smantha from Keno! BEC FARRELL - I have been working with KENO for 4 years and I’m in the Port Macquarie Region. This is my second time working with DRA. In 2019 just after the bushfires I went to Willawarrin and...
Get Amongst us – Veteran, Guy Sadler
I started my Military career in the Navy as a Marine Technician. The trade I got was a Fitter Machinist and Boilermaker Qualifications. I did that for 6 years and worked on minor fleet, patrol boat and landing craft. I then did a bit of a stint on ‘waries’, bigger,...