Mount Charles Restoration Bushfires 2019

Mount Charles is a family farm which has been in the Hannaford family for three generations and severely affected by the Cudlee Creek Bushfires on 20 December 2019. 

There has been a widespread loss to 240 acres of farming paddocks, equipment including hay - truck, back-hoe,
fodder for cattle, 10 km of fencing and 12 .5 hectares of the set line - irrigation. 

Fruit trees have been decimated, as well as, water lines to cattle troughs and part of the stockyards. The hay-sheds have both been destroyed, costing over $50 000 to rebuild, with at least $50 000 of hay lost during the fire. Whilst
the farm is insured, the losses will significantly exceed the insured amount, which will have a detrimental effect on
the future of farming at Mount Charles. All funds will be used to re-establish irrigation, fencing, new hay sheds, and hay truck, as well as to purchase hay through the coming months, although we have received donations of hay to last for the next 2 months.

We are extremely grateful to our community for their help and support in fighting the fires at the farm, where the
house and cattle both survived as well as vehicles, tractors, hay rake and seeder.  
We are also very grateful to all our friends who have helped us clear up the garden, orchards and irrigation system 
in the paddocks to preparing for the installation of a new system.