A caring and courageous couple

Philip and Christine Manktelow are giving back to rural Victoria in their retirement, highlighting that it’s never too late to give back.

The Mornington couple volunteered with BlazeAid, a volunteer-based organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods.

They worked on a farm one hour north of Buchan helping erect fencing over 10 days, all of which started at 5.30am.

“Trudging up and down the hilly paddocks for about 6 hours a day certainly improves your fitness

quickly,” Philip said.

“As does lugging fencing posts, rolls of wire, machinery and equipment, all in high-vis vests, work boots and gloves.”

The property was one of many that was affected by the 2019-20 Victorian bushfires in East Gippsland that burnt over one million hectares.

Christine said that for a couple who never lived in the country, experiencing life in an isolated and beautiful place for 10 days was very rewarding.

“The peace and quiet, being aware of weather, light and birds was so different from life in the suburbs,” Christine said.

“We worked with other volunteers from all sorts of backgrounds, and found the whole experience to be really worthwhile.”