Sikh volunteers serve bushfire-affected communities in Grampians

While most people in Australia are gearing up for Christmas celebrations, a team of volunteers from Melbourne is busy serving free meals, groceries, and medical supplies to impacted communities amid the growing bushfires in the Grampians.

Sikh Volunteers Australia serving meals, groceries, Christmas hampers and other relief work to support vulnerable communities affected by Grampians bushfires in Victoria's west. Credit: Supplied by Sikh Volunteers Australia

Members of Sikh Volunteers Australia (SVA) drove hundreds of kilometers from Langwarrin, Melbourne, to support bushfire relief efforts in western Victoria. They have been providing free meals and essential commodities to evacuees and relief workers around the bushfire-affected areas of the Grampians.

The massive Grampians fire has burned through more than 41,000 hectares over the past week.

Sikh Volunteers Australia Chief Executive Jaswinder Singh has been providing relief services in the Grampians for the last three days, delivering meals and non-perishable goods such as groceries, water, medical supplies, and Christmas gifts to the affected communities.

“It’s terrible out there. It’s our duty to serve them when they need us the most,” said Mr. Singh, speaking to SBS Punjabi.

Sikh Volunteers Australia hands out Christmas gifts to many bushfire impacted displaced families around the Grampians.

“We are humbled to provide Christmas gifts for kids from many grief-stricken and displaced families in these impacted areas, who have had to evacuate their homes during a time when the whole country is celebrating.”

“For the last three days, we have been serving at the Stawell Relief Centre, Ararat Relief Centre, and Stawell Caravan Park, where people have been evacuated from the Halls Gap area.”

“A 20-minute rain shower provided some relief, but we remain on standby as there is a high fire danger forecast for Boxing Day," Mr Singh explained.

Volunteers preparing free meals. Credit: SVA

Travelers are urged to stay updated on changing fire warnings as extreme temperatures and an increased fire risk are expected.

Almost the entire state of Victoria is impacted by elevated fire risk, with conditions being described as the most dangerous fire conditions since the 2019–20 Black Summer.

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