By Brendan Rees
A group of nifty handymen in Berwick have lent a helping hand in the aftermath of the Bunyip fire devastation.
Four volunteers from the Akoonah Park Men’s Shed dedicated two weeks of their time building 40 bird boxes – after receiving a call for help from the Tonimbuk fire recovery centre.
The bird boxes will become a new home for wild parrots after the March blaze burnt more than 14,000 hectares.
The shed’s manager Maurice Hall said he didn’t hesitate to take on the job.
“We do a lot of community work – when it comes in we do it,” he said.
“I just said yes straight away, I didn’t even hesitate.”
Vermont Men’s Shed also donated about 320 sheets of plywood used for the project.
“Where we joined them we just rubbed some black paint on them over the joins so they don’t rot,” Mr Hall said.
“We’ve got wire inside there so baby parrots will be able to claw their way out.”
He added: “The wood’s plain inside just in case birds peck at them.”
Rex Norton, who lost his home to the fires, said all volunteers were appreciated but more help was needed.
“We need volunteers for anything desperately, to help people in their gardens, to just to be there to talk to, anything,” he said.
“We need donations of plants for people to re-do their gardens … anything like that is appreciated.”
