We are incredibly proud of our team, especially our Osteopaths volunteering in the bushfire zones across Victoria.

Many of our patients, friends and professional colleagues have been affected by the fire situation that is still affecting us, not only across the State, but across the land.

People have been coming in telling us how they were stranded along coastal towns over the Summer holiday period and sharing upsetting news about the loss of family properties.

Many people who were outside the danger zone have been expressing their concern and helplessness over the situation and not feeling that they can do enough to help others in our community.

There are others coming in feeling sadness and experiencing reminders of the Black Saturday bushfires.

We collectively wanted to contribute and offer support in a way that was practical, useful and within our capacity.

The osteopathic profession is active and with the help of a number of organisers, we were given the opportunity to volunteer our services at the Swan Reach Base Camp CFA and other emergency services.

In addition, as we were driving down into the affected region, we considered this an opportunity to do something to help the local wildlife.

We put the word out to the Koru community as well as local businesses and they heard our call.

Collectively in just a few days, we filled 2 cars of donated food and other supplies for wildlife carers.

Your contribution included:

• Over 150kg of Wild Bird Seed
• 50kg of carrots
• 20kg of rabbit and guinea pig pellets
• 30kg of sweet potatoes
• 20kg of dog food
• 40kg of bleach and other disinfectant to clean animal wounds and cages
• 30kg of rockmelons
• Plus there was a huge number of tinned corn and chickpeas.
• Handmade kangaroo joey pouches and koala mittens for injured animals.
• Animal pain relief medication.
• Loads of nappies, wipes, cleaning cloths all used for the care of wildlife.
• Plus a huge quantity of electrolytes that the firefighters really appreciated as they like it more than the standard ones they are supplied with.

There was so much it is genuinely hard to remember it all!

After delivering the goods, we were fortunate to witness many other acts of kindness.

We met volunteer wildlife carers, who were hardly sleeping to take care of injured and hungry animals.

Everyone in the community had a tale to tell about what had happened and a story of something good that had happened amongst the hardship.

There were cafes wanting to give us free coffee once they found out what we were doing in their town (we didn’t let them).

We saw countless numbers of semi trailors delivering hay, including from the drought stricken Western district.

We heard about many other beautiful stories, such as donut vans in parks, where locals were buying trays of donuts for truck drivers to take back to the hay donates plus a coffee for the truckies.

In times of stress, pain and hardship, it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling helpless.

I want to encourage you to take action, to shift helplessness into something helpful.

People have a different capacity to give and that’s okay.

Not everyone can give money, some people can but can’t give time.

Maybe you too can volunteer in some capacity, it can be worth asking yourself if you have a special skill that you can share with someone in need.

Another option is to plan your next holiday in the bushfire district.

The economy in the region is (or will be) devastated by what is happening and the people need work and their lives to return to.

It is a beautiful part of the world. If in any doubt, here is a picture of Prue and Elizabeth (2 of our Osteopaths) enjoying a quick breakfast down in Lakes Entrance.

All it takes is just a little research and to find a way you can be genuinely helpful to those in need.

Not only will you brighten someones day, you will receive a side benefit of feeling the glow of giving.

You will feel empowered and potentially provide inspiration for others.

Feeling connected to those around you and to people in your community is not only good for your soul, it is genuinely good for your own health.

Next week another of our Osteopaths, Courtney is volunteering in the Alpine region.

Our plan is to continue to find ways to extend our services and care to those in need.

And to help others make a difference any way they can.