Five months after Australia's Black Saturday inferno determination flies in face of winter wind
Battlers struggle to rebuild
on a hills ridge near
Kinglake, Victoria |
By Garth Morrison Editor GoSee Australia and GoSee New Zealand
Five months on from the inferno of Australia's worst natural disaster the unstoppable Black Saturday bushfires it is cold, wet and miserable around Kinglake and Strathewen.
The southwest wind cuts like a knife and the blackened world looks like it has been hit by a great comet. But the red, white and blue flags of Australian determination stream in the hills cold wind, national banners for sheer guts in the face of devastation.
Gone but not forgotten |
Tents, caravans, a converted bus, box-like emergency accommodation and bravest of all sun awnings pressed into service as cheap shelters to keep the worst of the rain off. People cope with the mud too.
At both Kinglake and Strathewen 'camping' is the current housing for many people as they show what survivors they are. Game - their courage is such that it is no shame to shed tears of pride and pain at the sight of the magnitude of the recovery task they face.
At Kinglake a stark white cross stands . Around it propped and staked to grow into the future are standard roses.
Fixed to the trunk of a big gum at what was once Strathewen are messages and pictures weather-proofed in plastic bags. They run through every human emotion which great loss produces. But there is a common, amazing thread, hope and love of country. Strathewen has a recovery website www.strathewen.vic.au
Yesterday ABC News reported that - Counsel assisting the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Jack Rush QC, has been concentrating on the warnings for the Kilmore east region.
He says there was no warning for towns like Kinglake, where 38 people died and Strathewen where 27 people died.
Kinglake publican Sharon McCulloch of the National Park Hotel told the commission she was busy fighting the blaze, and by the time she heard an ABC radio report about the danger, the worst had passed.
"There were people camped on the front verandah and I heard the beep, beep, beep of the 10 - I think it was the 10 o'clock news," she said.
"The message was something that Kinglake's under ember or under fire attack, and I just remember thinking, 'Well that's a little bit too late'."
Parks Victoria www.parkweb.vic.gov.au should be contacted for full information on this National Park which has been badly damaged by bushfire.
Here are pictures GoSee took at the weekend on a 4WD visit to Kinglake and Strathewen on routes which included Bald Spur Rd and Bowden Spur Rd.
Editors Note: Also See -
Red Cross warns of psychological impact as full effect of Victorian bushfires becomes clearer
We have each other, a home, the love of our family and the Parkies have been great, say Marysville fire survivors
Glen Crispy (just a little bit burnt around the edges) re-opens today
Green Glen Cromie re-opens as Nature heals Black Saturday bushfire scars
Big fires contained. No threat to communities. Marysville Caravan Park gone Glen Cromie works to re-open
Editors Note: Bushfires are natural in Australia. We are challenged to live better with the land -
With lots of help from friends Grampians Estate celebrates bushfire comeback with Black Sunday Friends Shiraz
For more information
contact: Garth Morrison
Editor Go See Australia and Go See New Zealand Directory
Email: garth@contact.com.au
Words of pain, pride, caring and courage Strathewen |
Jayco Sterling becomes home near Kinglake |
Aussie pride still flies high |
A strange, sad silent land Kinglake Bald Spur Ridge |
Shelter is basic near Strathewen |
Strathewen Primary School |
Remembered |
Amazing. The house survived |
Bushfire raced along the Kinglake ridges |
Kinglake emergency accommodation on a bleak June day |
Kinglake junction for Bald Spur Ridge Rd |
Strathewen six months after Black Saturday |
This was hell |
Tough road back from disaster |
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