Sharni Williams is determined to help rebuild the town that built her in any way she can.
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The Australian women's sevens captain is Batlow's most famous export, if you don't include their apples, and she has been left devastated by the damage caused as the Dunns Road bushfire swept through her hometown on Saturday.
In a bid to contribute to the town's rebuild she has launched a GoFundMe page which will go directly to helping those in Batlow who need it most.
"It's shocking and my heart goes out to everyone but I feel so helpless," Williams said. I can't be down there consoling people and things like that and hearing at a meeting that it was undefendable just makes your gut really sink."
Now based in Sydney, Williams returned home for the Christmas break.
She spent her time catching up with friends and family and the 31-year-old believes the trip has added to her pain.
"I was back their recently and saw a lot of people so it really hit me harder because I was very present at the time," Williams said. "I did a training session at the oval where the helicopters were landing so it made it very surreal."
Luckily the Williams family were fortunate enough to be spared by most of the damage caused by the fire.
Her parents Shain and Gayle evacuated to her sister Tayla's in Junee, her grandmother was moved from the hospus to safety in Cootamundra, while other family also left the town, but they will all be able to return to their homes.
However she knows others who weren't as lucky.
The impact the fire has had on Batlow's industry, especially apples and other agricultural ventures, weighs heavily on the 31-year-old.
Williams is hoping her international profile can help get the town back on its feet.
She's looking to raise at least $20,000 for Batlow before spreading extra to other nearby communities.
"I'm extremely proud to be from Batlow and that country town is really suffering," Williams said. "It's time for me to step up, really make people aware of this tragedy to my hometown and also show that it can develop and create some amazing people."
Williams is the second highest point scorer in the World Series this season and she's looking to do her part on the rugby field as well.
Rugby Australia has announced $500 will be donated to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal for every try Australia scores at the Sydney sevens next month.
She's already urged some of her faster teammates to make it really count.
"I'm going to have to try to figure out how to get over that white line more, I've scored a couple which is unknown for myself as a forward, but I could be setting a few up just to try to get them over the line," Williams said.
"I've already hit Ellia Green up and said she has to get the wheels on as she is the tryscorer in our team and we really want to score a lot of tries for these bushfires."
Those looking to help Williams in her cause can do so at https://www.gofundme.com/f/batlow-rebuild.
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