Large numbers of burnt dead sheep lying in a paddock after trying to flee to a culvert during the fires in Ruffy, Victoria, Saturday, January 10. Photo: AAP/ Michael Currie.
Distressed farmers in fire-hit areas, facing the gut-wrenching decision of destroying injured stock, are searching for help.
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Shepparton hunting and outdoors retailer Steve Threlfall has responded by rounding up donations of ammunition farmers can use to destroy badly injured animals.
Although no detailed estimates are available it is believed there are thousands of sheep and hundreds of cattle which have either died or been injured in the Longwood fires.
“Farmers have been on the phone, in tears, showing me pictures of their stock,” Mr Threlfall said.
In his years of business and public life he has never experienced anything like this.
“It’s heartbreaking”.
Donated ammunition. The grim reality is that thousands of head of stock will have to be put down following the fires.
After he put the call out for ammunition, Mr Threlfall was astonished by the response.
Hunters and farmers from every state have offered either ammunition or donations of cash.
By the end of Friday he had supplied about 30,000 rounds.
“The take-up has been both outstanding and humbling,” he said.
“My daughter has tried to answer social media contacts but has been overrun by thousands of people commenting. ”
Many of the callers are women.
On Sunday morning, Mr Threlfall opened up his business, Trelly’s Outdoor, for donations and there was a steady stream of callers dropping off boxes of ammunition.
Ammunition manufacturer Winchester has offered thousands of rounds for the cause and other suppliers are also stepping up.
He is accepting donations of .22 and .223 calibre ammunition at the Shepparton and Bendigo stores. The ammunition can only be distributed to licensed gun owners.
Trelly’s is matching ammunition donations.
Cash donations have reached $10,000. He intends to establish an oversight committee to supervise distribution of cash.
HAY DONATIONS
Aussie Hay Runners has established a depot for fodder donations at Longwood, which has already received about 10 semi-trailer loads.
Anyone able to donate hay can contact Linda Widdup on 0421 972 332.
Greg Palmer from Strathmerton discusses the ammunition type with Steve Threlfall on Sunday morning.
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