As Victorians begin the long recovery following devastating bushfires which burnt more than 400,000 hectares, a pair of contract musterers have rallied their online community to raise $50,000 in donations.Ruby Buchanan and Edwina Doery, the duo behind Uwannagoforabeer Contract Mustering, started "The Big Bushfire Raffle" which they promoted to their engaged social media following.
The pair has been contracting in the rural industry since leaving school. They have combined station life with university study and since graduating have been building their Uwannagoforabeer brand.
“We work on stations and farms across Australia alongside our team of dogs, while also running our merchandise store online," Ms Doery said.
Ms Doery and Ms Buchanan launched their raffle on their Instagram page after seeing the damage caused by the fires.
“Because of our background, we understand how stressful farming can be even in a good year,” Ms Doery said.
“When natural disasters strike - flood, drought, or fire - the impact on farming families is devastating.”
The Uwannagoforabeer Instagram account had been attracting a growing following as the girls detailed their day to day life travelling and working across Australia.
"We had built a good following and so we decided to use this to help those in need after the bushfires."
“The January 2026 Victorian bushfires destroyed homes and farms off the back of an already tough drought, so we decided to use our platform to help,” she said.
The pair initially aimed to raise $20,000, but the raffle quickly exceeded expectations, reaching $50,000.
“Whilst $50,000 won’t fix everything across the 180 farms affected, if it helps feed families for a week or two, that’s one less burden they have to carry.”
A major part of the raffle’s success was the donated prize pool, worth just shy of $8,000. It included contributions from Australian businesses such as RB Sellars, Yowy, and Chute 9 Jeans, alongside many others.
“From drink bottles to artwork and caps, every contribution mattered,” Ms Doery said.
She said the support shown by rural businesses was one of the standout successes of the initiative.
“One of the most powerful outcomes was seeing how strong and generous the rural small business community is - many brands offered not only products, but time, advice, contacts, and genuine support,” she said.
All funds raised will be donated directly to Farm Angels, a national organisation supporting primary producers impacted by natural disasters.
Farm Angels has assisted more than 4,700 primary producers across more than 1,300 communities, providing practical support such as financial assistance, food hampers, care packs, and mental wellbeing support.
“Farm Angels was our chosen charity because their values align with ours,” Ms Doery said.
“They provide urgent financial relief and long-term support, ensuring farmers feel connected and backed throughout recovery.”
Ms Doery said choosing a charity can be difficult for donors.
“Charities can get a bad name due to running costs and wages... and it can be a matter of choosing the best overall,” she said. “For us, that was Farm Angels."
Ruby Buchanan and Edwina Doery, the duo behind Uwannagoforabeer Contract Mustering. Pic: Supplied
The pair thanked the community that got behind the initiative.
“This raffle would not have been possible without the community behind us,” she said.
“Every donation, every share, and every message of support meant the world. Thank you doesn’t feel big enough.”
“We encourage anyone affected by the Victorian bushfires to register their farm with Farm Angels, as this is a crucial step in accessing the funds raised,” she said.
To learn more about Farm Angels or to make a donation, visit the Farm Angels website here.