Sunday Outing to Flowerdale

A little while ago my friend Leslie and I were talking about the Victorian bushfires and what we could possibly do to help in any small way. We decided that visiting the affected areas and spending some cash might be a good start. We worried that it might be seen as rubber-necking but after seeing pleas on the news for just this help we determined to do it.

So today we packed the kids in the car and headed up to the Flowerdale pub for lunch.

Travelling through Wittlesea, the King Lake area and on to Flowerdale was a revelation. The devastation is appalling but the spirit of hope is palpable.

We had a wonderful time, on a glorious sunny day, lunching in the beer garden, then popping in to the Hazeldene general store for some goodies,

continuing on to a nursery where we all chose a plant to buy to commemorate the day.

As you can probably see, all the businesses we visited were ringed by fire and we were continuously astounded that they had survived. This last photo shows us outside the nursery and the countryside looked like this on all four sides of this property. It was an oasis of green amongst the burn and it was overwhelming.

Hopefully our outing will help these businesses in their bid to stay afloat and I highly recommend you head up there to support these amazing people who have suffered so much. Not only will it help bring business back to the area but it was one of the loveliest days I have spent in ages.

http://helpflowerdalenow.blogspot.com/

http://www.standrewspub.com/

http://kinglake.vic.au/

Yay For The Boys In Blue.

My phone beeped to tell me I had a text while I was waiting to pick up Gidget from school. It was from Victoria Police and my immediate thought was - shit... Surfer Boy has fallen off a building!! Luckily that wasn't it - it was a message that went like this...'Extreme weather in Vic expected Mon night & Tues. High wind & fire risk. Listen to local ABC radio for emergency updates....etc.' How bizarre - the police love me and are keeping me safe. It quickly dawned on me that they loved everybody, not just me, as more and more people waiting at school read their text messages!

I find it frightening that Victoria is under such fire threat this summer that the police are sending out state-wide texts! It feels surreal and a little apocalyptic.

I heard one parent comment that it would just worry people but hell, I'd rather be worried than ignorant. I had no idea we had another HOT day coming let alone 140km an hour winds!! It hopefully won't affect as as we live in the inner city but for those in outlying suburbs any warning is good based on the events of the last couple of weeks!

So Victoria Police - Thank you!

Pray History Doesn't Repeat

Tomorrow is shaping up to be another hell day in Victoria as far as bushfires go! 100's of schools and kinders have been closed as a precautionary measure and towns all over the state are on high alert. Please stay safe where ever you are and if you're not a Victorian, please keep your fingers and toes crossed for us.

Victorian Bushfires

As I watch Australians come together here and around the world in support of the victims of Victoria's bushfires I thank god I live in this country. We may be suffering from extraordinary floods at one end of the country and apocalyptic bushfires at this end but the spirit and compassion of the Australian people is astonishing, wonderful and not at all surprising. The tears keep falling but my heart is warmed and so proud of us!

One of the hundreds of C.F.A. firefighters who are still coping with the fires.

For those of you who may be reading this from another part of the world, this is the beautiful township of Marysville in Victoria which has suffered so tragically in the fires.

And here is a view courtesy of the channel 10 chopper of Marysville as it is today.

With fears that the death toll may reach 300 and fires still burning out of control the news is mind numbing but with the ongoing support of Victorians, and all Australians Marysville, Kinglake, St. Andrews and all the other decimated towns will slowly heal and rebuild.

http://www.redcross.org.au/