Paul Blundell admits he has made mistakes in his life. He blames falling in with the wrong crowd and drugs for no longer having his freedom, but seeing this summer’s bushfire crisis, he is trying to "give something back".
“Firefighters have died, wildlife has been injured, it touches everyone,” he told SBS News.
Paul Blundell helps prepare meals for fireys. Source: SBS News
"If you can't go out there and literally help yourself. We try and do what we can - the best way we can."
Inmates are cooking meals for bushfire responders at the Alexander Maconochie Centre in the Australian Capital Territory as fires continue throughout much of the nation.
Their lunch and dinner packs - from lasagna to roast beef with greens and carrots - are going to bushfire aircrews in New South Wales, providing much-needed supplies for those from the south coast to the Snowy Mountains including Adaminaby, Moruya, Cooma, Batlow and Talbingo.
Mr Blundell is a father of four, who has around two years remaining behind bars.
He wants to do whatever he can to help firefighters across the nation putting their lives on the line.
“It gives us a sense of purpose if we can do just the little bit to help,” he said.
ACT Minister for Corrections Shane Rattenbury and Paul Blundell. Source: SBS News
“We’re here because we did the wrong thing, so we’re trying to do the right thing.”
ACT Minister for Corrections Shane Rattenbury said preparing the meals has given detainees the chance to “play their part” in supporting the emergency crews.
Getting meals ready to send to the fireys. Source: SBS News
“It's been great that the detainees here have got together, identified this opportunity and got involved by making the meals and making them available to the flight crews,” he said.
"While the fire threat continues, the crews will be out there and we'll keep supporting them where we can."
He said the detainees themselves were not exempt from having family and friends caught up in the devastation.
Paul Blundell sealing meals for transport to those fighting the fires. Source: SBS News
“These fires have really affected so many of our neighbours, including detainees here,” he said.
“All of our detainees have the ability to make phone calls and they also have email … so those communication channels to families have remained open right through this fire period.”
Detainees have also been given the chance to make cash donations to support fire-affected communities something "most of the boys" have done, Mr Blundell says.
He said for as long as firefighters “are struggling” with the blazes “they’re happy to help”.
“We can’t contribute any other way so we are happy to feed them,” he said.
“It means everything to me – we did certain things, that’s what put us here so if we can contribute to society then we’re happy to do it.”
