With an initial intake of 45 both male and female from Tamworth and Gunnedah, tailored programs have been developed with enormous support from TAFE and Dept Education and Communities and DEEWR.

Tamworth Regional Council and Gunnedah Shire Councils have both demonstrated their commitment and desire for outcomes for the young people in their communities through financial contribution to the project.

A Namoi CMA project has been approved provided a practical project on farm.

We look forward to sharing the story as the young people  roll up their sleeves .

Details of these newspaper articles and more can be found in Media.

Inspiration from being covered in ash has emerged on paper as the boys from the BackTrack School explore the use of charcoal.

Man’s Best Friend

Images from their time spent on the Fire Relief Project dominate, as do their beloved dogs.

Experts at work – Dusty, Barry, Fred, Macca, Dave, Sandy and Matt

The generosity of the Rotary Club of South Dubbo through their fund

raising extravaganza Destination Outback 2012, provided the financial support to bring the project to life.  They are a dedicated team who bring about positive change in the rural communities in which they live and the ripples of influence travel far and wide.

Dusty, Barry and Fred – Feeding the team

A group of happy, BBQ tool equipped experts joined the BackTrack Team at Tooraweenah for a weekend adding tucker, humour and good times to the whole experience.

Thankyou – you are champions for a great cause.

Youth Worker Mikey Moran shows how it is done.

Teaching the boys everything he knows is all too much for Dusty.

Steep and steady progress

The BackTrack Team and some faithful Paws Up dogs

Here is what the boys have to say about their experience.

“When I first came out it was all black and now there is some green coming through. The fencing is harder than you think and it is hot … real hot. Barb wire is heavy …. it hurts when it gets you.” Tyron

“I’m proud of the work we are doing out here and of all these boys busting their guts. It is horrifying what the fire has done to the countryside.” Bliss

“It’s alright. The strainer posts are real hard to get in. There is so many rocks and the gravel is loose.” Alaister

“The work is hard but it’s fun spending time with the boys. Got to drink heaps of water. When the going gets tough, just keep going.” Marshall

“It’s good helping these people who have gone through so much.” Clarry

“When you do this work, helping people out that have their paddocks burnt, it makes you feel good. Real proud of myself.” Richard

You are deadset legends boys!

Testing the depth of the post hole.

Fencing on top of the range at the Warrumbungles

Not for the feint hearted …fencing at Toorooweenah.

BackTrack Boys working hard to help farmers and graziers in the Toorooweenah / Coonabarabran area install replacement fencing.   We are proud of you boys. A tough job for grown men

An appeal has been launched to support the initiative with fencing materials and financial donations being accepted at the Tooraweenah Trading Co-op.

You can make a donation by calling 02 6848 1011 and help supply materials to help the initiative.

Lester Thurston said a $25 donation covers the approximate costs of a roll of tie wire; $75 covers the approximate costs of several star posts or strainer posts; a $150 donation covers the cost of a roll of fencing wire and a $250 donation covers the approximate costs of a roll of 200 metre roll of hinged joint.

All that stands

Today’s Fire rating

The members of Rotary Club of Dubbo South are joining forces with the BackTrack boys to help clean up and rebuild in the bushfire ravaged communities of Tooraweenah, Coonabarabran and the Warrumbungles.

January bushfires razed 55,000 hectares in the Warrumbungle National Park, along the edge of Coonabarabran township, and properties in the Baradine, Bugaldie, Tooraweenah areas.

Rotary Club of South Dubbo President Professor Joe Canalese, BackTack’s Dusty Fenn and Isaac McIlveen

The BackTrack team won its stripes in the wake of the 2011 floods that devastated the Mingoola and Bonshaw communities, when the boys worked with local farmers for more than a fortnight in 40 degree heat to clear debris, clear, repair and restack hay sheds and stock yards, and install thousands of dollars’ worth of replacement fencing.

Work starts for the volunteers in Tooraweenah on Monday with Tooraweenah Trading co-op store manager Lester Thurston taking donations to purchase urgent fencing materials needed for repair work on local properties.

An appeal has been launched to support the initiative with fencing materials and financial donations being accepted at the Tooraweenah Trading co-op.

The community is invited to call 02 6848 1011 to supply materials to help the initiative

A community barbecue will be held in Tooraweenah on Saturday 16th February from 6pm to thank and support the volunteers, local communities, and people from bushfire-affected properties.

The  “Paws Up” dog jumping team will give a demonstration at the event that is bound to raise spirits.

“This night is for everyone to meet, and show support to these communities and volunteers and help with fundraising/support efforts,” says Backtrack team manager Dusty Fenn.

Helena Pastor – Writer in Residence 2013

“Although this is a new role for me, I’ve actually been writing about BackTrack since 2007, when I first approached Bernie and asked if I could ‘hang out’ with the Iron Man Welders for a while and creatively document the experience for my PhD. I had a lot of fun in those early days at the Shed – learning how to use a drop-saw and a grinder and do basic welding jobs – and Bernie and the boys really made me feel accepted and part of the crew. Over the last few years, though, I’ve been busy writing a book – a memoir – about the lessons I learnt during my time with the Iron Man Welders, and HarperCollins are currently considering the manuscript for publication. For the rest of this year, I’m going to be writing about various activities at the Shed and elsewhere, and encouraging others to get creative as well. We’ll be writing regular blog posts – which will offer ‘behind the scenes’ insights into BackTrack’s different programs – and we’re calling this project ‘Stories from the Shed and On the Road’. The first ‘story’ will be up in a few days. Until then …”

Back in March 2012, a group of students from Armidale TAFE’s Film and TV school went to the Armidale Show to film the Paws Up performance.  The crew of film students followed the Paws Up team over the following months, collecting hours of footage of the boys and dogs in action.  The arduous task of editing the pile of footage down to a 5 minute video that showcased the fun and skill of the Paws Up team followed.

It was a great learning experience for the students, working with the unpredictability of a live performance and their first taste of filming animals.  Happy to have a challenging assignment that tested what they’d learned in the course which also delivered a valuable resource for the Backtrack organisation in promoting their shows, the Armidale TAFE Film and TV School have done a top job.

You will find the DVD under Programs , Paws Up. Tell your mates and book the Paws Up Team

http://backtrack.org.au/paws-up/

The challenges of this larger industrial job is balanced with the boys working on a range of creative products and art pieces for sale. Amazing how their creativity comes together with welding and engineering skills to produce some wonderful work. We won’t be featuring that art work here just yet, but stay tuned as we develop a dedicated space for showcasing their work both here on the web and in the Gallery at the Shed. For now, a showcase of their skills.