"There's a massive sense of community here and people pulling together."

Kind-hearted Irish friends of an Australian farmer who was forced to shoot 20 of his cows after they were horrifically injured in the ferocious bushfires that have devastated the town of Cobargo in New South Wales have started a fundraising campaign to help the area that has been ravaged by the blaze.

In a heartbreaking move, beef farmer Steve Shipton from Coolagolite was forced to cull a number of his cattle that were still alive but so badly burned that they couldn't get up while many others lay dead on the charred ground.

Devastated dad Steve was consoled by neighbouring farmers after the harrowing task of putting down the cattle which had been severely burnt by fires that swept through his property.

The team of big-hearted volunteers that travelled to help the devasted New South Wales town

Alison Kelly (35) whose family own the Railway Bar in Kells and partner Joe O'Donovan (36) from Cork are among a group that started Operation Cobargo, an initiative coordinating donations for the community that has seen a number of people killed and thousands of homes left in ruins.

Consultant Alison who lives in Coogee south-east of Sydney has just returned from a volunteering trip to Cobargo and says the generosity of the Irish in Australia during the crisis has been 'overwhelming.'

"Steve's brother Philip is a good friend of ours and we are heartbroken for him and the community in Cobargo. There are various initiatives but we have been collecting donations of clothes food, water and medical supplies.

"My partner Joe put a request out on the Irish around Sydney Facebook page and managed to secure support from truck drivers and warehouses to help transport and store all the donations. We've also managed to get generators and camp beds sponsored as the majority of the village are sleeping on the ground of the showground right now.

Farmer Steve Shipton being consoled by neighbours after culling his cattle 

"The town has no power, water, sewage or communications. People are sleeping on the ground in the showground as their homes have been burnt. Steve's farm has been decimated with the loss of animals and feed. With the roads close the fear is that the animals left may die due to malnourishment.

"With the speed and ferocity of these fires, farmers were literally burnt alive sitting on their quad bikes with their hands still clutching the handles not even having enough time to put their hands to their face before the fire raged through and incinerated them.

Alison and Joe have just returned having travelled 500km from their home in Coogee to volunteer in the ravaged town.

"As you approach Cobargo the smell of burning timber reaches right to the back of your throat and the smoke stings your eyes.

A warehouse full of donated goods from the Irish community in Sydney

"When we arrived we went straight to the Rural Fire Service headquarters and met the firefighters. These locals made up of just a handful of guys had desperately tried to protect the town while their own homes burnt to the ground.

"We made our main delivery at the show grounds of the town, this was the temp relief centre which had showers, toilets and supplies for those that needed it.

"The navy, army and fire crews were discussing logistics and the next steps. Fire crews from Byron bay had come down to support and relieve the local team.

"We went to see Steve’s farm, it was completely decimated. Steve and his family despite the conditions were in good form and showed amazing resilience."

Devastatingly two of Steve's neighbours were killed in the blaze, eight neighbouring homes were destroyed and 50 cattle lost in the flames according to big-hearted Alison.

Farmer Steve Shipton had the harrowing task of shooting his cattle who were severely burned in the bushfires 

 "They are desperately trying to save the cattle they have left but they are suffering from infections and burns and there is limited water or feed for them.

"They had to shoot their calves to put an end to their torture. 

"It was such an inspirational day to see how the whole town is rallying around supporting each other and being so resilient."

There has been an extraordinary effort to help those in need according to the Sydney resident.

"There's been a massive response across the Irish community and the Eastern Suburbs in general.

"Keith Donnelly from Dublin is one of the people who started this fundraising group, he works for Prince of Wales Mental Health and his enthusiasm and drive to help others is infectious.

The town of Cobargo has been left in ruins

"There's a massive sense of community here and people pulling together. We had old ladies struggling to walk and new mothers with their kids and pushing prams all dropping off donations its been overwhelming to see the response.

Last week Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was heckled when he visited the devastated town of Cobargo with some residents refusing to shake his hand in protest against the lack of support from the government according to the Irish ex-pat.

Steve had the gutwrenching task of  removing and burying the deceased animals from the farm

"There is a huge amount of anger that it has had to fall on local communities to step up and help because Scott Morrison for months did nothing and left it to the local governments to try and resource and manage. It is only this week he has accepted this is a national issue.

The close-knit Irish community in Australia has become even stronger with this national crisis as Alison explains.

"Australia is our home and just like if something bad happened in Ireland, the Irish community just comes together to do what they can.

Steve and brother Philip Shipton earlier this week as they came together to help the local community

"In Sydney city and surrounding suburbs at the moment there are good days and bad days depending on the wind direction. Our cars are covered in red dust, there is ash dust in the air and covering the grounds but people are generally able to get out and about unless you have a respiratory condition."

"The entire country is literally on fire we are very lucky to only be affected by smoke here in the Eastern Suburbs so it's up to us to help those less fortunate to get back on their feet and help rebuild this country we call home."

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-steve-shipton-from-coolagolite