Retirees 'give back' by volunteering to help rebuild communities hit by disaster
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Kerrie Bennett admits she does not do retirement well.
From dawn until dusk, she runs a camp of volunteers aged between 20 and 90 in the middle of outback Queensland.
"I just didn't enjoy retirement as much as I thought I would," she said.
"My son thought mum was just going to be an old lady who sat around knitting, but I'm not that type of person at all."
At 77, Ms Bennett has temporarily relocated from Western Australia to Jundah, a tiny town more than 1,000 kilometres from Brisbane, heeding the call for help to rebuild communities after disaster.
Earlier this year, parts of the outback copped two years' worth of rain in days, swelling rivers until they burst and swallowing properties whole.
It's estimated that 13 million hectares of country went under water.
"When people need you, you just come," Ms Bennett said.
Since May she has been "camp mum" to more than 180 people who have volunteered at the BlazeAid base in Jundah.
From ex-ringers to backpackers and retirees, they've collectively put in more than 1,000 days' work fixing fences and homes, and restoring hope, on surrounding properties.
"If a farmer needs to talk, the fence will wait till tomorrow," Ms Bennett said.
"It's imperative we let them talk."
A crew of retired tradies is back on the tools renovating an old shack so the family can have a home.
"We literally went from drought to flooding rains in three days," property owner Anne-Maree Lloyd said.
"The cattle were swimming … our cows were just starting to feel the effects of drought and then had torrential rain on their backs in mud.
"This flood destroyed every building; we lost the whole house station complex."
It is not necessarily typical work for BlazeAid, but when retired Hervey Bay builder Chris Jacobs enquired about volunteering, Ms Bennett knew the offer was too good to pass up.
"She said, 'Boy do I have a job for you,'" Mr Jacobs said.
"When I heard Anne-Maree and Jeff's story I thought, 'I've got to be here.'"
The 72-year-old has spent weeks living in his caravan on the property.
"It's always good to be back on the tools … it's great to be able to give back and give someone a home," he said.
"I now realise the complexities of working remotely; we haven't just got a Bunnings store just down the road."
Heather Ballinger, who grew up on a neighbouring property, has returned to oversee the volunteers.
She said it was about figuring out everyone's capabilities and then finding a job that suited them.
"They've been awesome, willing to put their hand up at anything, always have a smile on their face."
Anne-Maree Lloyd said every volunteer was a "godsend" no matter their age.
Those passing through stay for as long as they're willing, with camps in Longreach and Cunnamulla now closed, but Jundah and Quilpie are still open.
For Barry Smith, it might be his first time volunteering, but he is a seasoned hand.
"I'm retired on the Sunshine Coast but in my youth, I used to jackaroo around Longreach," he said.
"Having been born and bred on the land basically most of the stuff we've got to do with repairs or fencing I'm familiar with.
"Not that I thought I'd be working as fast as some of the fit young fellas."
Marie Bes, from the west coast of France, said she was looking to do something different.
"We learn a lot … mostly fencing, different kinds of fencing but also just cleaning, helping with houses," she said.
"It's the real outback here … it's big family, nature, few people and some beers."
But with an outback summer fast approaching, when temperatures soar well into the 40s, the remaining BlazeAid camps will be suspended.
However, Ms Bennett is hopeful they can return in the cooler months of next year.
"I don't want to leave anybody in the lurch — I would love to finish what we started," she said.
"These are the most incredible people, how on earth they pick themselves up after what happened here and get up every day and do it all over again … I'm in awe of them."
By Hannah Walsh
From dawn until dusk, she runs a camp of volunteers aged between 20 and 90 in the middle of outback Queensland.
"I just didn't enjoy retirement as much as I thought I would," she said.
"My son thought mum was just going to be an old lady who sat around knitting, but I'm not that type of person at all."
At 77, Ms Bennett has temporarily relocated from Western Australia to Jundah, a tiny town more than 1,000 kilometres from Brisbane, heeding the call for help to rebuild communities after disaster.
Kerrie Bennett has been volunteering with BlazeAid since 2022. (ABC Western Qld: Grace Nakamura)
Earlier this year, parts of the outback copped two years' worth of rain in days, swelling rivers until they burst and swallowing properties whole.
It's estimated that 13 million hectares of country went under water.
"When people need you, you just come," Ms Bennett said.
Since May she has been "camp mum" to more than 180 people who have volunteered at the BlazeAid base in Jundah.
From ex-ringers to backpackers and retirees, they've collectively put in more than 1,000 days' work fixing fences and homes, and restoring hope, on surrounding properties.
"If a farmer needs to talk, the fence will wait till tomorrow," Ms Bennett said.
"It's imperative we let them talk."
More than 180 volunteers have helped at the BlazeAid camp in Jundah. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
Building a home
At Jedburgh station, about one and a half hours from Jundah, Anne-Maree and Jeff Lloyd lost their homestead, which was more than 150 years old.A crew of retired tradies is back on the tools renovating an old shack so the family can have a home.
"We literally went from drought to flooding rains in three days," property owner Anne-Maree Lloyd said.
"The cattle were swimming … our cows were just starting to feel the effects of drought and then had torrential rain on their backs in mud.
It is not necessarily typical work for BlazeAid, but when retired Hervey Bay builder Chris Jacobs enquired about volunteering, Ms Bennett knew the offer was too good to pass up.
"She said, 'Boy do I have a job for you,'" Mr Jacobs said.
"When I heard Anne-Maree and Jeff's story I thought, 'I've got to be here.'"
Graziers head to the skies to assess the damage that lies below. (Supplied: Joe Tully, Tenham Station)
The 72-year-old has spent weeks living in his caravan on the property.
"It's always good to be back on the tools … it's great to be able to give back and give someone a home," he said.
"I now realise the complexities of working remotely; we haven't just got a Bunnings store just down the road."
She said it was about figuring out everyone's capabilities and then finding a job that suited them.
"They've been awesome, willing to put their hand up at anything, always have a smile on their face."
Anne-Maree Lloyd said every volunteer was a "godsend" no matter their age.
Volunteers eat together every night and recap the day. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
Takes all types
All sorts, from all parts, have shown up to camps scattered across Queensland's back country.Those passing through stay for as long as they're willing, with camps in Longreach and Cunnamulla now closed, but Jundah and Quilpie are still open.
For Barry Smith, it might be his first time volunteering, but he is a seasoned hand.
"I'm retired on the Sunshine Coast but in my youth, I used to jackaroo around Longreach," he said.
"Not that I thought I'd be working as fast as some of the fit young fellas."
Marie Bes, from the west coast of France, said she was looking to do something different.
"We learn a lot … mostly fencing, different kinds of fencing but also just cleaning, helping with houses," she said.
"It's the real outback here … it's big family, nature, few people and some beers."
But with an outback summer fast approaching, when temperatures soar well into the 40s, the remaining BlazeAid camps will be suspended.
However, Ms Bennett is hopeful they can return in the cooler months of next year.
"I don't want to leave anybody in the lurch — I would love to finish what we started," she said.
"These are the most incredible people, how on earth they pick themselves up after what happened here and get up every day and do it all over again … I'm in awe of them."
By Hannah Walsh
