By Michelle Slater
Farmers and heavy machinery operators banded together to clear roads in the ranges after residents were stuck on their properties without power, phones or access for days.
Boolarra, Budgeree and Yinnar South resembled a war zone, with roads blocked by thousands of fallen trees which had taken out power lines, some houses, shedding and major infrastructure.
Yinnar South locals Ben Dawson and Marc McKinlay were just some of the community members who began clearing roads the morning after the storms ripped through.
“It was like a jet engine blowing in my face, there were trees breaking all around me,” Mr Dawson said.