Rhiannon Govier, TarrangowerTimes
every property owner has a story. That is just one of the reasons why Lyn and Stan Rasmussen became coordinators for Blaze Aid.
During the four months of coordinating the Blaze Aid camp in Maldon to support those impacted by the Harcourt fires, the camp has spent $11,000 in groceries and $6,000 in fuel, the majority of this within our Maldon community. The camp saw 214 volunteers who worked over 2,000 volunteer days, that is equivalent to over $500,000 worth of work ($30 p/hour).
Volunteers cleared 46km of fencing line and provided 55km of new fencing across 83 properties.
These are some impressive statistics, however it gets better. The camp bought in national and international visitors from Gippsland, South Australia and Western Australia to Argentina, Chile, Norway, the US, the UK and Malaysia. Volunteers really enjoyed the Maldon landscapes and community with many joining in our events and spending time at local cafes and the bakery.
“What a beautiful town Maldon is,” Lyn said. “Locals donated cakes and slices that really helped our volunteers in the kitchen. The Butcher and the IGA have been amazing supports, in fact, it didn’t matter where we went, everyone was friendly.”
“The facility we have used over the four months has been amazing, and I would like to say a huge thank you to Mark Ward for giving us an opportunity to set up camp there at no cost. Mark went above and beyond for us and we are so appreciative. Volunteers were out of the weather, had their own bathroom, heating and cooling along with meals provided in a well set up environment. The facility provided a beautiful landscape where volunteers could unwind and recharge after a hard day in the field.”
When asked why you do it, Lyn replied by saying it is a 24/7 job. “It’s every day, you answer your phone and it could be a farmer… it could be a volunteer, maintenance is needed, menu’s organised, online replies, the list goes on… but every property owner has a story. When you volunteer, you get out and meet people, and many of these people become life long friends. You also get to see areas and do things you would never normally do, or have access to.”
As the camp comes to an end, it is nice to recognise the contribution it has made, not only to the local shops, but also to the time spent during total fire bans, to contribute to the Machinery Museum and the Maldon Cemetery. As they wait for the last load of linen to finish in the dryer so the facility is left how they found it and they empty the cupboards, unused donated pantry items are passed onto the Maldon Food Pantry.
All of this was possible thanks to our amazing Maldon community who volunteered their time in January to bring this facility to life and help our fellow neighbours in Harcourt.
This article appeared in TarrangowerTimes, 15 May 2026.
Related story: Behind the scenes with BlazeAid
