CNH donates money and muscle for bushfire rebuilding

While most of the country turn their attention to the COVID-19 pandemic, regional communities in Australia are still struggling to rebuild after what was the country’s worst bushfire season on record.

One such organisation that is still helping the rural community get back on its feet is BlazeAid which helps affected families and individuals rebuild fences and other structures that have been destroyed by natural disasters such as fires and floods.

CNH Industrial - parent company of leading heavy machinery brands including Case Construction, Case IH, New Holland, IVECO and more - has forked out $250,000 towards BlazeAid’s rebuilding efforts. Not only that, the company is also working on sending a team of staff to volunteer in one of the many BlazeAid camps.

CNH Industrial Managing Director for Agriculture in Australia and New Zealand, Brandon Stannett, said the company is proud to support the community of farmers and their families facing challenges of rebuilding after the devastating fires.

“Our team is pleased to be able to help in a simple and practical, yet very important way,” he said.

“As a company, we work in partnership with local communities and farmers across Australia every day and we are committed to ensuring that we can support them through times that can test even the strongest in our community.

“Obviously, Australia – and the world – is now facing this new challenge that is COVID-19 but we want to show these bushfire-affected communities that their rebuilding efforts are still very much front-of-mind for the company, and our staff.”

BlazeAid President and Co-Founder Kevin Butler welcomed the support, saying as a volunteer-run organisation, this kind of donation is critical to address the impacts of natural disasters like the bushfires.

“The recovery efforts will be long-term and we are only able to continue to help communities through the ongoing support of our volunteers and partners. This assistance from CNH Industrial will help make a real difference in areas where so much has been lost,” he said.

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Butler said the organisation still has volunteer teams working in camps across bushfire-affected areas despite COVID-19 restrictions, all the while adhering to recommended safety and social distancing measures. He added each camps cost about $5000 a week to run.

“We think BlazeAid does amazing work in disaster-affected areas and it’s satisfying to be able to assist their efforts with this donation and possibly with the contribution of a team of volunteers,” Stannett said.