He had already received a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Yea in 2011 and was awarded an OAM in 2017 Australia Day Honours.
Benalla Rotarian Bruce Walker said Alan had undertaken voluntary work, including replacing fencing after the 2009 Black Saturday Fires - and had assisted in many other fire events.
“His bushfire fencing all started with Alan and wife Val after the 2009 Black Saturday fires, which had an enormous impact on all Victorians and the rest of Australia,” Mr Walker said.
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“A group of people teamed up under Alan’s leadership and built quality fences on farms around Kinglake, Flowerdale, Strath Creek, Taggerty and Buxton.
“That is where Graeme and Joy Budd from Benalla first worked with Alan.”
Alan joined groups from across the country assisting in that refencing project including some from Shepparton, and VCAL students from Benalla also helped out with refencing.
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Alan also volunteered after the 2013 fires around Boho and Warrenbayne and was assisted by a Durringhile prison team and some clients from Odyssey House.
The 2014 fires around Bunbartha and Numurkah saw Alan and his team busy refencing once again.
In 2015 there were fires at Lake Rowan, Boweya, Goomalibee and Stewarton where refugees from Shepparton assisted with the refencing, along with Alan and members of the Rotary Club of Benalla.
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Last year (2020) also saw the massive fires around Corryong, which were part of the worst Australian bushfires ever recorded, and Alan and his team were out helping once again.
Mr Walker said along with all the fencing was the counselling that took place with the farmers who had lost so much. The talking, the listening and the heartbreak.
“For the first time in 2020, after spending winter in Corryong, Alan took a break from fencing and continues to take an extended break into 2021,” he said.
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Mr Walker said the Uniting Church, Rotary, local businesses, the CWA and numerous individuals had contributed many thousands of dollars in order to assist volunteer groups purchase equipment for fencing.
“This includes a large tractor fixed with a post rammer, an ATV, four fencing equipped trailers and recently a troop carrier to ferry people to and from the job,” he said.
“This is now all housed undercover on a farm at Cudgewa until the team will be there again to support the farmers of Corryong.
“All and any extra volunteers would be most welcome.”
● If you would like more information on Rotary or how you can volunteer to assist their charitable activities you can email benalla@rotary9790.org.au
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