As any primary producer will tell you, a secure boundary fence is vital to protecting livestock and their livelihood.
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Bushfires continue to burn across the South East, with countless thousands of kilometres of fencing destroyed or damaged.
National volunteer organisation BlazeAid arrived in Cobargo last week and is already on the job assisting landholders with the massive job of replacing fencing.
Along with the volunteers though, members of the Australian Army have also been visible right across the region repairing farm fences, their white vans travelling the highway to take soldiers to where they are needed most.
Section Commander Steve Mitchell likened the bushfires to a "battle", and while there may be a lull for now, "we're still not even into the hot season through February".
Mitchell was overseeing Response Team 3 of the Response Group 20B outside Quaama on Wednesday, January 22, as they dug in and tensioned new boundary fencing for Greg and Wilma Chinnock.
"We [the Army] are being used as a force multiplier," he said.
"We've been able to complete in a week what would've taken Greg months.
"His cattle are in the back paddocks and he can't bring them to water until the boundary fences are up."
Meanwhile, within hours of arriving in Cobargo to begin lending a hand on fire recovery, the soldiers' Canberra home was devastated by a wild hailstorm.
"That hailstorm ruined all their cars back home," Mitchell said of his charges
"Their wives and partners are all there now working out insurance paperwork! It's nothing to what these people here have gone through though."
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It has been Australia's lost summer. Drought, hail, floods and, worst of all, bushfires have ravaged communities all over the nation. But the selfless actions of friends, family, neighbours, strangers, local groups and volunteer organisations have inspired us and strengthened the bonds of community. Please join us in saying thanks to the heroes of the home front by sharing your stories of gratitude. To salute a person or a group, please use the form below.