Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) has given immediate support to those severely affected by the bushfires.While major organisations such as the Red Cross, St Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army have come under scrutiny for the drip feed in support payments, GERF late last week had already allocated a whopping $2,179,500 of the $3,993, 395 at its disposal.Almost 1000 referrals had been...

A free concert on February 7 has been organised to give the people of East Gippsland a bit of relief, socialisation and entertainment.Organiser, Carlee Knight, has booked the Bairnsdale Racecourse and organised sponsor for Tom Curtain’s ‘We’re Still Here’ tour.“It’s a social gathering, I’d like to people to know that while we’ll have donation tins around, it’s more important for people to have a...

Suzi Pulis, who runs the Raymond Island Koala and Wildlife Shelter at Waterholes, is only just starting to bring back koalas and joeys that were relocated from the property during the bushfire crisis.Ms Pulis only recently purchased the historic Waterholes Guest House and its adjoining 45 acres as a sanctuary for injured wildlife.Having outgrown the Raymond Island site, the team of wildlife...

Widespread rain since Sunday has been welcomed across East Gippsland, completing the trio of the Aussie drought-fire-flood cycle.According to the Bureau of Meteorology, in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday, the highest fall recorded was Stratford at 109 millimetres.Bairnsdale recorded 75mm, Bullumwaal 79mm, Mallacoota 28mm and Omeo 18mm.Aside from replenishing soils and dams, the water has caused...

Buchan resident, Jim Norling, and his friend, Judy Sturrock, were spraying water around his property in the heart of the town when the inferno wreaked its fury across the landscape.Mr Norling and Ms Sturrock had earlier been putting the chooks to bed and feeding the cockatoos and the five sheep on the property.It was just before 7.30pm on December 30 and Mr Norling was wetting down around the...