A GROUP of 48 Pacific Islander workers who were forced to flee Batlow for Wagga during the Dunns Road bushfire have returned to work in the town's orchards.
Montague Orchards general manager of business development, Rowan Little, said that the company had brought in electricity generators to make sure the workers had suitable housing in Batlow.
"It's great. The town's power has been returned but its a bit unreliable so we have the generator as a back up," Mr Little said.
"Obviously if we have people living there and the power is off for an extended period that is problematic."
The workers are now taking part in 'thinning' the orchards by removing non-viable fruit and pruning back leaves so that the apples gain a red colour from sunlight before the start of harvest in late February.
They will also assist other fruit growers in Batlow prepare their surviving crops for the harvest.
The Vanuatu Choir performed this month at Wagga's multi-faith prayer service for people affected by the bushfires, singing Amazing Grace and other hymns.
Group member Freddy Worboru told SBS that the workers were grateful to the Wagga community for providing shelter during the fire.
"When we came here, we came with nothing, no food," he said.
"So we are very grateful and thankful for the community here.
"They supplied us with food. We feel happy all the time."
During the evacuation, the workers have been staying at a motel owned by Wagga City councillor Kerry Pascoe.
Cr Pascoe said he had received a phone call at 10pm on New Year's Eve asking if he could provide accommodation for the workers.
"I've taken them to church and tried to keep them occupied," Cr Pascoe said.
"They've been a bit bored stuck in a strange city."
Cr Pascoe thanked Domino's Pizza and Wagga Fruit Supply for donating food for the workers.
Mr Little said Montague planned to have the workers complete their contracts.
"The seasonal workers program is a great system. We like having them here and they are great workers and they are a very important part of the industry.
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"This is the second year that they have come in as we have found it difficult to get workers to come in for short amount of time, so the have been a godsend for us for filling in that gap."
Mr Little said Montague had continued to pay the workers for a minimum contracted number of hours while they were in Wagga.
"We believe that we will catch up so that they will end up earning the same amount of money we would have paid to them had the bushfires not disturbed it," he said.
"There's a long time in the season to go but that's what we are anticipating at this point."
Montague suffered bushfire damage to 5000 of its 200,000 apple trees around Batlow.
