Young farm manager praised for moving 100 cattle to safety during Corrigin bushfire
Oliver McLeary stands in front of the burnt remains of his house. (ABC Rural: Richard Hudson)
An 18-year-old farm manager is being praised for single-handedly saving an entire cattle stud threatened by a bushfire in the Wheatbelt.
Key points:
- Oliver McLeary saved 100 cattle from a raging bushfire
- His house burnt down while he was moving the animals
- Fires in the area burnt more than 45,000 hectares in total
Fire raced through the Yongerellen Red Poll Stud between Corrigin and Quairading on February 6 destroying a home and three sheds in its path.
The fire was one of a number within the Corrigin complex that burnt a collective 45,058 hectares and destroyed four homes.
Oliver McLeary was alone at the stud when the fire first hit a neighbour's place.
Mr McLeary said the fire changed direction, suddenly putting the farm's 100 breeding cattle in danger.
"There were a few around the house that were straight in line with the fire front, and I got them out of the way," he said.
"There was a bit of work involved with that, just from all the smoke created from the fire and the stock weren't really happy moving with all the smoke."
He said he had to move them as quickly as possible.
"Just knowing how fast that fire was moving, I didn't really want to stay around, especially with it heading straight towards the cattle," Mr McLeary said.
"I just tried to keep pushing as much as possible but there was a point where I had to leave and let them be."
Stud principal Murray Williams and Mr McLeary survey the damage to the property after the fire. (ABC Rural: Richard Hudson)
Mr McLeary moved several mobs of cattle and all of them survived.
Despite the ordeal, he said he was prepared and had not felt scared.
He said fire preparation earlier in the day helped him keep calm.
"You can't really move stock [by] sort of pushing them around," he said.
"You've just got to move them calmly."
While the cattle were saved, Mr McLeary's house, which he had only moved into a month ago, was burnt to the ground.
"The house is a bit flat, it's seen better days," he said.
"Just fully finished moving in, buying all the furniture, had all the tools and clothes and all that.
"I've still got my ute … and have got a few clothes."
His friends have donated clothing but he said there was one part of the house that he would miss.
"The loud old 1970s air conditioner — that was a favourite of mine," he said.
Damage on the property caused by fire. (ABC Rural: Richard Hudson)
'Valuable' experience for young farm manager
Stud owner Murray Williams was in York recovering from knee surgery when the fire hit.
It burnt 50 per cent of his 2,000-hectare property and razed several sheds including three containing machinery.
He said the stud cattle had been carefully bred and Mr McLeary had done an incredible job keeping them safe.
"He is an outstanding young man," he said.
"He just obviously kept his cool, did what he had to do and got his priorities right.
"He looked after livestock first, got them into the clear and unfortunately lost his own place in the process.
"Human life is your first priority in any incident and then animal welfare, and he certainly got that animal welfare sorted."
Mr Williams said there would be some valuable learning opportunities for the young farm manager ahead, as he dealt with the aftermath.
"That experience of coming through a fire and learning things and insurance … rebuilding, soil management and that," he said.
"It's just a fantastic opportunity for him."