Tenterfield Shire Council staff put on a dinner under the grandstand last Wednesday evening to heartily thank camp coordinators Judy and Ed Bland and the last few remaining BlazeAid volunteers, and representatives of the many community organisations who had supported the effort by helping with catering needs.

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These included the CWA, Lions and Rotary Clubs, the Wallangarra/Jennings Progress Assocation, Men's Shed, Tenterfield Show Society, Tenterfield Chamber of Tourism, Industry and Business and the Rescue Helicopter Op Shop who all took it in turns to prepare and present meals to the tired volunteers at the end of each long day. Local suppliers Foodworks, Sue's Fruit and Veg and Peipers Cheepers also helped out.

Materials-wise, local farmers donated a trailer-load of used fencing wire and pickets while Rotary donated new barbed wire and pickets, and the Tabulam Lions Club and CWA donated funds to distribute to affected Tabulam farmers to help them purchase gear.

Mayor Peter Petty made special mention of Sue Jurd who got the catering roster rolling and, along with husband Bob and Mignon Wanstall as part of the Brusharbers Road gang much of the catering as the roster got organised.

Mrs Jurd sent her apologies for not being able to attend the sendoff, but representatives of many of the other groups did. This time it was council staff manning the kitchen, with the mayor on barbecue duty.

Mr Petty said the night he volunteered oven problems turned dinner into a potential disaster but Mrs Bland, an old hand at feeding large crews on the turn of a penny, came to the rescue and the disaster was averted.

And there were a lot of hungry mouths to feed, with 97 volunteers racking up a total of 1072 work days. They ranged in age from 19 to 81, and worked on 49 local properties that had been damaged in February's bushfires.

Experienced camp coordinators, the Blands said Tenterfield was an exceptionally-supportive community.

"We have found the Tenterfield community to be just so friendly and so supportive in so many little ways," Mrs Bland said.

"It's been fantastic being catered for every night by a different group.

"There's not a thing that we could have asked for to be different. It's been a fantastic experience and it's been an absolute privilege to help the community to recover in any way that we can."

Mr Bland actually thanked council for asking BlazeAid to come and help.

"Out of all the camps that Jude and I have done, this is one of the best we've had to deal with," he said.

"The community's right behind us. We've had no negative feedback it's all been positive, and it's been our pleasure to come over here and experience your hospitality."

Mr Petty said he'd heard from many landholders who said the BlazeAid work had been well-received.

"You had a big paddock to cover, and you've done it well. It's something that we'll never forget."

Here's the full presentation...