In the first week of January, bushfires devastated Batlow in the NSW Riverina region, leaving much of the iconic apple-picking town in ashes.
A man died while trying to defend a friend's property and an estimated 20 properties were destroyed when the town was hit by the so-called Dunns Road fire, which continues to burn on multiple fronts.
The choir performs for locals in Wagga Wagga. Source: SBS News
While residents have returned to assess the damage, a group of 54 fruit pickers from Vanuatu remain in nearby Wagga Wagga, after being evacuated from a region outside Batlow, where they worked on an apple farm.
The group is now being housed at a local motel owned by Wagga Wagga City councillor Kerry Pascoe.
Having seen the devastation first hand, the group has formed a street choir to lift morale within the community and to say thanks to those who have taken them in.
The impromptu choir is using its voice to say thank you to those who have taken them in to their community. Source: SBS News
“We just love to come and sing for the people to feel happy,” choir member Freddy Worboru told SBS News.
“When we came here, we came with nothing, no food. So we were very thankful for the community here. They supply us food and we feel happy all the time.”
Choir member Freddy Worboru Source: SBS
Mr Pascoe said it was vital to assist the group at such a difficult time.
“It’s a very sad situation, the Wagga community is a very giving community and I’ve tried to help these guys by bringing them up into the main street here and taking them to church and keeping their minds occupied,” he said.
“It’s hard but I don’t mind doing that. It’s the joy I get out of the whole thing.”
NSW Family and Community Services established a Disaster Welfare assistance point at Wagga Wagga's Equex Centre to distribute groceries and clothes from the Salvation Army to people evacuated from nearby towns.
have provided NSW firefighters with the opportunity to slow and control more than 50 uncontrolled fires.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison concedes he agrees that climate change is driving longer, hotter and drier summer seasons and the government's emissions targets need to "evolve".
Speaking with the ABC, the prime minister added that he believes one of the issues which should be explored by a royal commission into the bushfires, which he will put to cabinet and the state premiers in coming weeks, would be the impact of climate change.
