All our Australian friends...

[Cassel]

We have several members from Australia where there is currently devastating forest fires.

 

Can our Australian members check-in? We worry about you! Stay safe and if you have access to the forum, tell us you are ok.

[Annie Tobin]

Hi Cassel. I live in Bundaberg which is a small city in Queensland about 4 hours drive north of Brisbane. The rural areas around us were hit by fires in early Spring (September) but are seemingly under control for now, although some are still burning. The fires are now concentrated in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Some residents have had to flee to coastal areas where the Australian Navy are attempting to evacuate them to safer territory. The town of Cooma was put on high alert for fire evacuation when at 9 pm Saturday evening one of the town's twin water tanks, which were situated in hills above the town, burst and flooded the town. Speculation that the extreme heat possibly caused the tanks seams to rupture. Those residents were battling flooding and choking from smoke inhalation ... go figure! Fire fighters from all over the world have joined in with a helping hand. Dropping water from overhead has become almost impossible as flying conditions are too hazardous and there has already been a couple of helicopters go down. The fires are generating their own fire tornadoes so our Firies are perplexed, exhausted and wondering where to go from here. We are a nation desperately needing Mother Nature to lend a helping hand. :(

[AprilDawn]

Hello Carole, as Annie has already given a bit of insight into what is happening in our Country  I will just let you know that I live in Brisbane  Queensland and we are OK...

 

Thank You for your concern for us here in Australia.

 

Dawn.

 

 

 

 

[Cassel]

I am glad to hear that you two are safe and not in near danger for now. I cannot imagine what it would to be in the situation that so many of other people near those fires, or even those working as firefighters.

 

Who else do we know from Australia in the Campus? Let's try to tag them.

[Cristina]

Annie and Dawn, I am so happy to hear from both of you. I have been thinking of you and others that live in Australia. The loss of human lives, houses, fauna, and flora is heartbreaking. :'( It is a loss for everybody that lives in the Planet Earth. Praying for all of you.

[Daniella Breen]

Hi Everyone,

 

I am new here and haven't until now shared in these forums. I am in Tasmania, which whilst much cooler than the rest of Australia, also has fires - they have reduced in ferocity and presence, so at this point all is safe. Where I am, south of Launceston, there is no issue from the fires, however the smoke from the mainland is quite significant! It's not impacting me however others with lung issues for example, are feeling it. Have a gorgeous day everyone. Daniella.

[Jan Wilson]

Hi everyone, just finally saw the Newsletter about this thread.

 

We are safe.  We live on the South Coast of New South Wales, on the coast out of Nowra.  We have had some effects of the fires like fire rages 15Kms from us on 21st December.   The sky turned from Day to Night in the afternoon, burnt leaves and sooty ash rained down with lots of choking smoke.   It was eerie.  We had gotten watch and beware alerts on phone and mobiles that there could be ember attacks and evacuations may be imminent.  It was a very stressing day and the first of several over the next week.

 

Fire fighting planes were continually filling up in the river, swooping down, skimming water and taking off again to fight nearby fires.  The road in or out was closed (only one way in)  It is a coastal village famous for its beaches.  This a day to night photo in our yard.

 

The same thing happened 26th December with another fire 12 Kms away at another location very near Nowra - the fire had jumped the Shoalhaven River and was burning out of control but luckily for us (but not others) the raging winds fanning the fire was not blowing the fire in our direction towards the coast, but it was warned if an expected wind change occurred late afternoon- it would.   The Shoalhaven and other South Coast areas have so much National Forest- it burns quickly and fiercely.  It was a holocaust  because the land in in severe drought, forest etc are tinder dry.  Gale  force winds did not help.

 

Whole towns further down the Coast toward the Victorian border and over the border were devastated by fire, several burnt, homes and livelihoods lost - even several deaths and I think the total is seven so far.  Whole towns were forced to take refuge on beaches.   The problem is it is summer school holiday time and tourists and visitors were in great numbers and as roads were cut or closed, they could not get back home North or South.  The Government ended up evacuating people by Navy boats and helicopters.   Widespread power and communication outages added to the chaos, fuel and food ran short.  It was a complete nightmare to these people and townfolk.

 

Now I hear this weekend it could start all over again as high temperatures and winds may eventuate.

 

It is so sad also when you see the harrowing images of burned wildlife, Koalas, Kangaroos and others.  These fires have been burning right along the East Coast of Australia for weeks.  Also in Victoria, South Australia and even Tasmania.

 

We are Australians, we will survive and rebuild.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jan Wilson]

I don't know whether I can post a YouTube link here.

 

This is a compilation tribute to a song, We Are Australian by various Australian artists of the bushfire images.  It is very touching and brings a tear to our eyes.  Hope you can get to see it to get a sense of the true horror.

 

[Annie Tobin]

Jan, I have watched this and as a fellow Aussie it broke my heart. It is a beautiful tribute for such a disaster ... and, it still goes on with no relief in sight. Here in Queensland we have not had our spring rains. The ground is crispy, crunchy to walk on with no sign of green except where people are hand watering to keep their plants alive. Even this is not being very effective as our trees and shrubs appear to be dying from the top down. Bundaberg appears to be out of the danger zone for now but we were smoke affected for most of spring and the beginning of summer due to the fires in the surrounding rural areas. Our local firies did a truly brilliant job. Today we have a little cloud cover but the forecast says a 6% chance of precipitation, 2 mm. But, everyday the forecast has been similar and no such thing has eventuated. Sunburnt Country indeed. For those who have never heard of our poet Dorothea Mackellar below is a link to her famous poem "My Country". I think this poem resonates in the heart of most Aussies even through these most trying of times.

 

https://www.dorotheamackellar.com.au/archive/mycountry.htm

 

[Annie Tobin]

Hi Daniella. It is nice to know that you are safe in our much loved state of Tasmania. I do know that you have had your problems with fires in recent years and there are also some contained fires burning currently. Here's hoping that 2020 brings some much needed respite for this beautiful country. Pleased to make your acquaintance! :)

[Jan Wilson]

Annie, I doubt there would be an Aussie who would not be moved by this footage.

 

Had an extremely smoke filled day today (Sunday 13th) due to the rain that fell, but only very lightly here.  Other coastal places up and down the coast from Qld to Victoria got more  It pushed the smoke down to the ground and made it a dangerous day to venture outside so staying indoors with windows and doors shut was the only option if one possibly could.  I suffered today from 'storm asthma' that had surfaced again days ago during the main fire days brought on by the smoke, ash and strong winds.

 

Milder conditions and indeed a bit of rain has eased the fire situation and hopefully this will last.  Glad you were safe in Bundaberg and you get some rain and lets hope no Cyclones form and head in - thats all that is needed your way.