Welcome Matthew and Eleanor
Kruses Road Community Fireguard Group held its first neighbourhood Rakeathon today to welcome new residents to the community.
With 20 members of the group plus Mathew’s parents Nick and Barbara and about 13 of their friends all helping out the atmosphere was terrific.
Works got off to a prompt start at 10am and piles of leaves and fallen timbers were rapidly stacking up before going into a 4” chipper Matt had hired.
A short break around 11:45 for tea and cakes was very welcome before getting straight back into it.
Elle and Barbara were very busy in the kitchen preparing a magnificent lunch at 2:00 pm with Nick manning the barbie.
A change of shift at the same time meant that momentum was kept going and many of us pressed on through to 4:30pm leaving the family with some final tidying up.
For a first time event we must be absolutely chuffed that it went so well. It was not without opportunities to learn for the next 
time but all agreed that working together was a great motivator, fun and good for the community as a whole.
From Kathryn at Danddenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group:
Good to see the rakeathon in Kruses Rd, Warrandyte.
Our Sherbrooke Lodge Rd Fireguard group is gearing up for our fourth working bee to clear the ‘firebreak’ between Sherbrooke Forest and Sherbrooke Lodge Rd.
We have had an average of 28 ‘locals’ at each one.
Jointly managed by Parks Vic and Shire of Yarra Ranges, this area is never cleared and has contained a huge amound of fire fuel. Disappointingly, neither managing body could offer help with disposing of the waste so we burn the material. We would have preferred the availability of a mulching truck but it was apparently not possible!
Kathryn
Hi there,
Very keen to get in contact with the organiser of this event for a story in the local paper.
Please feel free to contact me at crowed@leadernewspapers.com.au
Also keen to hear from other fireguard groups in Manningham and what meetings and fire prevention activities they are holding.
Thanks!
Danni