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HOW NANOOK MADE AÂ DIFFERENCE
"The Story of Nanook Samuel"
"Helping Hand, Helping Paw"
As you may of gathered , Nanook and I just loved to help others, and in this event, it was just not about helping Children and Adults, But it was also about trying to help his four legged Friends
In late 2019, Australia had the start of the worst Fire Season ever to happen on the East and South Coasts of Australia.
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The devastation that effected the communities and towns of the southern states of Australia was horrific. The effect it had on lives, and the properties would create scares that will never recover.
From the moment that the news started to spread that their were families and communities that had lost everything was so over whelming. The Australian population had to rally around our fellow communities and do what we could to help them out.
Town of "Mogo" southern new South Wales
There was so much support for the People and the Towns of Southern Australia, but Nanook and I felt that we needed to something extra for the Fur families that have been displaced.
Hence the Nanook Donation Fundraiser Project commenced.
We contacted many companies and stores to see what they could do to help with this cause of Donations of Pet Foods, Supplies, Bedding, Leads and so much more. The results were amazing.
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It was just not the likes of Stores, but it was the community here in Brisbane that helped donation the essentials for the Pups, Kitties and shelters that needed this the most.
With the amazing help and support of the Local Petbarn Store, the donations started to flow in. Not just a packet here or there, but pallets of stock that was distended to the effected Pups and their owners in the southern states
With the Camper Trailer loaded with what we could, the road trip begun.
With no set agenda or location, I was off to find those in need of both Food and supplies and assistance with what I could do. Tools, Generator, Chainsaw, and just the basics supplies that people were needing.
First stop, Port Macquarie at the Koala hospital to assist with the nurture on the Fire affected Koalas form the surrounding area. Due to the over whelming support for the local communities, all I was able to do was to leave blankets for the Koalas and the Hospital team.
Next stop was at the a Animal shelter in Ulladalla where i donated food, beds, leads, bowls and what was required. Here we found so many pets that had been taken in due to families that had lost all of their possessions and homes, that they needed somewhere for their Fur Babies to stay, just for the short term. the Team was very grateful, and i even got to play with some new pups.
From this point onwards, it just got real.
Without being there first hand, I could not even imagine what these people and communities went through. to see simple things like a sign that reads " Pray for Rain", I am sure people just wanted all of this to stop!!
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The landscape was chard , there was no signs of life on the ground, just stopping along the roadside and walking in the burnt out forest was just so eerie. So quiet. I remember hearing and seeing a lone Black Cockatoo flying over head calling out for his mates, but no response.
Driving into the township of Lake Conjola and just seeing a man sitting on a chair out the from of his burnt-out home was just heart breaking.
Continuing to head south, this is where I was able to stop and rest a while, but also got to talk in details with some locals at the Cabargo Showgrounds.
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This was like a refuse center for where so many people had to retreat to after the fire burnt though there homes and communities, watching livestock burnt, their homes been destroyed and not knowing what was going to happen next.
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I stopped into the Showgrounds makeshift kitchen, and the offer of a cuppa was just so open.
The Lady that was manning the kitchen was a volunteer, as she had no job to go to as the business that she worked for had burnt down. I sat there for a few hours just chatting, to be honest, I think I was just doing more listening. I think she just wanted to talk about what had happen and the different people that this whole ordeal had affected.
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She spoke of local people and the things they did to try anything to protect their properties and livestock. It was all very saddening, but their was noting i could do but listen.
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After dropping off supplies, they had advised that there was a township further south that could also could use some additional supplies and help.
"Things happen for a reason"
As I was leaving Cobargo, I stopped on the side of the road in town to check the map, I looked to the right to see two ladies talking over their front gate, and behind her was about 10 dogs, big and small.
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I walked over to say Hi and introduce who i was and where i was from and what i was doing there. I had asked if these were all her dogs ? she had mentioned that she was the dog groomer in Cabargo, but the store had been burnt down. She had advised that the locals that had been effected by the fires needed a place for their pups to stay, and hence she had taken them all in. She had asked me, "Who sent you here" I said "No One" I just stopped on the side of the road to check a Map, looked over and there you were. - "things happen for a reason"
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6 Bags of Dog food, 2 bags of Cat food and various beds unloaded later, and I was off again.
Stopping into the Community hall at Quaama to drop off more supplies and again, have a chat about how these people were coping with the ordeal. More devastation stories were told and even sandwiches and a cuppa was offered. All I could do was listen.
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I had made a comment that it sould like you need a Beer, Sorry to say, there was nothing available. Not till I opened the fridge in the Camper, and a six pack of cold beer was handed over. The least I could do.
Some years prior, we stopped in a town called "Mogo" on one of our trips to the Snow. Little did I know, this time, the town was so different, never to be the same again. the fires had destroyed nearly half the town.
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I stopped into the same store i did some years prior and got to talking to the owner, His stories of that night the fires flowed trough his town was incredible.
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He told me of the night he stayed in his store to be there to try and protect it from the fires, he described the sound of the fires roar and the way the fire performed. he explained that fire just does not burn on the surface, but can also burn underground via tree roots.
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I made a purchase from his store and I am sure he appreciated that I paid 4 times the amount for this item. Lucky for Nanook, there was a Hair saloon in town called "Nook Hair Co" that was not effected, so as I said, "things happen for a reason"
This trip and experience that I got to see, listen too, feel and help with will be something that I will remember for the rest of my days.
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The people I met the stories that were told were all brought about due to the connection of Nanook. Without him in my life, I am not too sure if this is something I would of done for the Puppies and the Fur babies.
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Some 5000 plus klms covered, Some $3000 worth of goods donated by the communities and the countless memories built and shared will always be remembered by me, and now you while you read Nanooks Stories and memories.
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The Sun will continue to Rise and Set everyday, and it is what we do here on this planet and in our lifetime that will define us.
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But it is my dear friend Nanook that has helped make who I am later in my life and will help me continue his legacy of helping others for many more years to come.
So thank you my dear friend Nanook for what you have done and given me in these very short years, I will never forget you, and I am sure a few others will never forget you either.
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xxx Dad.