By Steve Cuff
The small town of Cobargo on the south coast of NSW has suffered more than most during these tragic bushfires.
The scenes of buildings in their main street burnt to the ground were sad enough, let alone the town and surrounding areas where houses have been lost, as well as the devastating news of lost lives.
But out of tragedy comes generosity and members of the Jindabyne community, led by the idea of local builder Jason Gammell to try and help, now see a convoy of goods being transported direct to the Cobargo community.
Cobargo Hotel Owner David Allen who has set up an unofficial Cobargo Bushfire Relief Centre at the Cobargo Showground said he has welcomed the news and goods that have arrived.
The drive of just over three hours has seen vehicles loaded with supplies at Jindabyne then shipped straight to the showground.
"It is just so much appreciated, I said to Jason, we could have 100 homes lost in the Cobargo and the outlying district," said David.
"People are coming out of the evacuation centres and hopefully coming back to homes. A lot of people coming back and their is no home there, so they only have the clothes on their back virtually, so they are coming up here, getting some supplies, some dry groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, its all up here it is so much appreciated."
"There is just so many people here now, it has swelled today from two or three hundred people, it could be about 500 people here now. It could be a thousand people here shortly we just don't know."
David said it was mostly local people from the district including Bermagui, Tilba, Brogo who are affected. "Bermagui is still a no go zone so we are starting to see those sort of people."
"It is safe here now, Cobargo has pretty much burnt all around for about ten kilometres."
"We have actually rain today but it is has dissipated, but they are forecasting more bad conditions later in the week, so the threat is still not gone.
"The people feel safe here (showground), it is not an official evacuation centre, it is a bushfire relief centre, people come in they get hot showers, they can bring their animals.
"We have fodder here, we have more fodder coming, that is one thing we desperately need, small bales of hay. They can have a hot meal, hot shower.
"We do have clothing here but it is getting gobbled up pretty quick, particularly clean underwear is needed, socks, boots, torches.
"We need camping equipment as we have no power from whenever it hit, we might not have power in town for another two or three weeks, nobody knows. The outlying areas of Cobargo they might not have power for three, four, five, who knows, the scale of this is unprecedented in Australian history."
In Jindabyne Jason Gammell said the Caltex service station donated $500 worth of diesel that was shipped down last night by Peter Vagne who returned this morning.
Matt Tripet had taken a refrigerated trailer from the Jindabyne Butchery with goods and there were numerous vehicles behind Jindabyne's Memorial Hall that were being loaded and taken down. Cash has also been donated.
"We have been here since just after 6am, Thredbo gave us a pallet of food, Woolworths gave us two pallets of food," said Jason.
For anyone who can donate goods, they can do so until 5pm at the Memorial Hall, and then can drop items at The Market Place opposite the Post Office in Jindabyne.
Jindy Cobargo Facebook Page
Cobargo Bushfire Relief Centre Facebook
In Cooma, supporters can drop off goods at Rhythm Snowsports.
There will be more runs to Cobargo tomorrow.
A video of the Cobargo Showground today.
