Four Deakin University Warrnambool campus staff in conjunction with Blaze Aid have launched the drive for trees, plants and shrubs to help revegetate 73 farms.

Louise Clancey, Julie Regan, Peta Williams and Cheryl Finnegan are coordinating the local drive and are appealing for community support. 

Ms Regan has been organising donations for Blaze Aid since the March 17 fires and has been told replanting paddocks will become a high priority for farmers.

Ms Clancey said a local committee of Deakin staff members was coordinating the tree and plant appeal.

“We are asking people to donate plants, trees for paddocks and shelter lines and also plants, flowers and shrubs to replant around dwellings,” she said.

The initiative will also support local and regional nurseries through the purchasing of trees and plants for the drive, and donors can be linked to participating nurseries.

A weekly drop-off point has been established each Thursday from 10am-5pm at 6 McGinness Way Warrnambool. The drive organisers can also collect from people who aren’t able to drop off plants. The drive will be held over the next month. 

A Facebook page has been established for the drive https://www.facebook.com/ReGreen4FireAid or people can contact Ms Clancey at louiekitten@hotmail.com

Ms Clancey said the community continued to be generous to help farmers struggling to get back on their feet.

“We are already getting positive responses from Deakin staff and students who want to be involved and it is open to the broader community. 

“We welcome anyone or any community group or school who would like to become involved or make a donation,” she said.

Blaze Aid Cobden camp coordinator Christine Male said many farmers would soon be looking to replant windbreaks after fixing their fences.

Ms Male said volunteers from the Cobden camp had so far rebuilt 313 kilometres of fencing. She said there were 19 volunteers in the field on Monday and the camp expected to continue to operate for another three months.