A DISASTROUS fire that ripped through Tenterfield and Tabulam last month left obvious destruction in its wake.
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Now, it's time to rebuild and grey nomads are the unlikely heroes.
Volunteer organisation BlazeAid, that helps communities rebuild after natural disasters, has a camp set up at the Tenterfield Showground.
Kind commander Judy Bland and her husband Ed were the first to arrive.
"Farmers are so resilient that it doesn't matter how many times they get kicked, they roll over and get kicked on the other side," she said.
"They just get on with it."
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More than 35,000ha were razed around Tenterfield in the February fires and at least 70 firefighters worked day and night in an effort to control the blazes.
Already 35 properties are in BlazeAid volunteers' sights and the camp will be there for three months fixing fences, rebuilding sheds and more often than not just providing a shoulder to cry on.
"If a farmer wants to sit on his four wheel under a tree and spill whatever he needs to get off his chest, we'll do just that," Mrs Bland said.
"We've heard some horrendous stories of flames in excess of 200ft high, animals and horses ramming each other to get out of the fire.
"Weird and wonderful things they can't always talk about to family and friends."
Rebuilding a community is a massive effort and it needs everyone to be involved, local Lions and Rotary Clubs along with the Country Women's Association band together to cater for the volunteers each day.
Leftover lunch packs are taken out to remote property owners who might have been too deep in repairs to have a hot, nourishing meal in a while.
"We aware aware there is a massive emotional toll and we keep an eye on various people we come across," Mrs Bland said.
"If we find someone in need we put them in touch with the right people, sometimes it can be as simple as taking out a care package."