Volunteers Collin McKenzie and Bill Greenfield at the woodchopping yard. Photo: Nikki Bailey.
On a large block of land in Chadwick a group of volunteers use machinery to chop and process firewood to get the community through Esperance’s cold winters.
The chopped wood is sold for $130 a load, with proceeds going to the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS).
Coordinator Neil Livingstone started the group 17 years ago and with the help of other wood choppers, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the RFDS.
Condingup farmer and volunteer wood chopper Ian Mickel got involved just over a year ago to give back to the charity that has helped his relatives.
“Within my extended family, quite a number of them have had to be flown from Esperance to Perth in the flying doctor so it was only fair that we work hard to raise money to help fund the flying doctor,” Mr Mickel said.
“Many people in Esperance have got the same attitude and give money a variety of ways to the flying doctor to help cover the cost of getting Esperance people to Perth when they are sick.
“It’s a great project and good people to work with too.”
These volunteers are raising vital funds for the RFDS. Photo: Nikki Bailey.
He said the group of 25 volunteers averaged 75 years of age and worked two days a week to produce the firewood.
“Lots of skills, lots of commitment to do things for their community so we’re fortunate that everybody gives their time volunteering and works pretty hard to get wood out into the community,” he said.
“I think it’s fantastic the way people do things for this project and everyone sees it as being an important way that they can raise funds and help the flying doctors.
“They also know it’s a service to their own community by getting firewood that people can buy and use to heat their homes.”
Mr Mickel said the logs were often donated by people in the community who had cut down trees or cleared their property.
The RFDS relies on the local, volunteer-run auxiliaries to raise funds and awareness for its community services.
