Victorian bush fires

Special Post: Reflections on the 2009 Victorian Bushfires – by a Year Nine class in WA

12 | 16 Australia

I was recently contacted by a high school teacher in Western Australia, who said her year nine class was doing a project on the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, and having found my own diary entries on the ordeal, asked if I would be kind enough to read and respond to their reflections, as somebody who was [...]

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Smoking Saves Lives?

05 | 06 Australia

Would you believe that smoking saves lives? It does. It really does. (Never mind that the habit takes a few more than it saves). The fires on Black Saturday took many people by surprise. As the hottest day on record, many Australians did what you do in such heat: they stayed inside, drew all the [...]

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After the Fires: Our Multi-Coloured Backyard

03 | 13 Australia

After being home for a few days in the wake of a month-long evacuation due to the Victorian bush fires, we hear/smell/feel/see something that makes our hearts sing: rain. It pours overnight, and drizzles through the next few days. Although naysayers worry about erosion and the negative long-term restorative effects of too much rain, we [...]

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Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 24th – DAY EIGHTEEN

03 | 05 Australia

Home, Sweet Home Tuesday, February 24, 2009 – DAY EIGHTEEN Home, Sweet Home After an extremely hesitant but positive response from a local authority that we could return home but must remain vigilant about the fires that are almost too close for comfort, we return home.

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Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 20-22 – DAYS 14-16

03 | 03 Australia

Enjoying the ocean, and a different kind of fire… Friday-Sunday, February 20-22, 2009 – DAYS FOURTEEN to SIXTEEN Too many “last straws” have come and gone…we need a rest. My own small break in taking a trip to Melbourne was not exactly restful, and Kelly has worked two full weeks in a highly-charged environment with [...]

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Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 19th – DAY THIRTEEN

03 | 03 Australia

Thursday, February 19th, 2009 – DAY THIRTEEN It seems like every night I sleep somewhere else. I wake up in the middle of the night – as I do, to pee – and have to re-orient myself before trying to get up. I struggle to remember where I am, how I am oriented (is the [...]

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Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 18th – DAY TWELVE

02 | 27 Australia

Although this image of charred ground may not look dramatic, you may think differently if you knew what it looked like before. Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 – DAY TWELVE The pleasant distractions of last night end when I cough and sputter my way into reality from a solid sleep; the smoke is thick and full. [...]

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Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 17th – DAY ELEVEN

02 | 26 Australia

In addition to the hundreds of pumper trucks coming in and out of the Alexandra staging area, armoured personnel carriers are now part of the flotilla. These guys are serious. Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 – DAY ELEVEN Apparently we are not the only ones living out of our car…we pile our belongings into the car [...]

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Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 16th – DAY TEN

02 | 26 Australia

There are over 400 tents pitched at the showgrounds, with over 600 emergency workers sleeping in shifts. (And this is not the only base camp established in the area). That’s allotta fire fighting going on. Monday, February 16th: DAY TEN As we pull up to the DSE/CFA base camp in Alexandra for breakfast, I see [...]

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