LIFE & STYLE

by Maryann Jenkins

Volunteers have been clearing overgrown bush properties along Bells Line of Road to protect the homes of our most vulnerable residents through a Habitat for Humanity Australia ( HHA ) bushfire resilience program .

Some 20 property owners from Bilpin and Kurrajong through to Mount Tomah , Dargan and Clarence , have had “ a giant weight lifted off their shoulders ” by this not-for-profit organisation , which is looking for more properties to tackle in the Hawkesbury .

The work is carried out at no charge to the resident as HHA is funded by private donors and the government .

According to Philip Sen , HAA ’ s community development manager bushfire resilience , a team is ready to assist those who can ’ t maintain their bush property , including older people , widowers , the sick and disabled .

“ We now have a full team and two properly-equipped vans and , having finished up most of the work we found

Ready , willing and able to help now : pictured during International Volunteers Week at Bilpin , UNSW BITSA student volunteers with Habitat for Humanity Australia staff ( l-r ) May Chen , Clarissa Lee , Cindy Huang , Philip Sen ( HHA ), Roy Li , Jonathan Lin , Alex To and ( front l-r ) Simon Turner ( HHA ), Matt Vermeulen , Anna Yuan and Jacob Homulos ( HHA ).

along Bells Line of Road , are now reaching out to anyone in the area who needs a little support getting ready for the next hot dry summer , or simply getting back on top of all this growth ,” Mr Sen said .

“ Ironically , all this rain we ’ ve had means that the fuel load around homes is just getting greater , with both native and non-native saplings and weeds growing gangbusters ! And not everyone has the time , energy , means or money to deal with it .”

If you want to know more about Habitat for Humanity Australia , or have an overgrown property that needs help , contact 1800 885 599 , email info @ habitat . org . au or register to be a volunteer at volunteer . habitat . org . au .

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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 145 // JUNE 2022 13