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Post by mlm828 on Feb 8, 2009 15:56:38 GMT -5
I have been reading about the devastating wildfires in Australia. My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected. I hope all of our Aussie members are safe.
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Post by matilda on Feb 8, 2009 16:09:08 GMT -5
Thank you mlm. All safe here in Sydney thus far - I know there are some Victorians on the Board so our thoughts are with them.
108 lives. Untold damage.
N
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Post by Katryna on Feb 8, 2009 17:13:40 GMT -5
Thank you mlm. All safe here in Sydney thus far - I know there are some Victorians on the Board so our thoughts are with them. 108 lives. Untold damage. N I am glad you are safe and I hope that the other members down under are as well. I have been concerned about you all! |
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Post by bjobsessed on Feb 8, 2009 17:29:45 GMT -5
Me too. Let us know, ok?
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Post by inuvik on Feb 9, 2009 14:35:23 GMT -5
And floods too, in another part of Australia. Need to combine them hey, and then no problem!  (A little humour never hurts). |
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Post by matilda on Feb 9, 2009 15:54:48 GMT -5
Yeah I know innie, can you believe the irony? Floods at one end, fire at the other. Typical - it's harsh this ancient land of ours. 173 at last count and fires still going. Go to www.smh.com.au for latest. A national disaster of the most horrific kind. And Kathy, your lovely thoughts given everything that's going on in your life are all the more lovely - thanks. Back to the feed ... M |
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Post by Dreamfire on Feb 9, 2009 18:05:43 GMT -5
Hi I am safe and my home has not been in danger. I live 20 minutes from the nearest blaze. I spend time on the weekend helping my closest freind andher husband as their vinyard adn home was threatened. The fire front came through the vinyard across the road, taking out their house, sheds, blowing up their tractors and equipment, and the stand of hundred year old cypress trees burned for hours. Somehow, to Karalyn and Xavier's very great fortune just as the fire began to jump the road and reach for the cypress trees outside their place, the wind shifted and turned back. There is nothing but scortch marks on the grass and litter of blackened leaves over the property to show how close it came. Their heighbours across the road have lost their vinyard but no one died and they saved their animals. Karalyn had her horses on the area, the children, cat and dogs had already been evacuated and she stood there with a hose, ready to defend her equine buddies. Thank goodness it didn't come to that. Karalyn is as close to me as a sister and I am glad it didn't get to the point where she had to fight for her life. The day after we went to check on her freinds, no one had lost any family, there were some pets who perished in the fires. Some lost their homes. While we checked we knew that in other areas over the moutains the fight continued and we could see the orange glow of the flames under the clouds over the hill. The Yarra Valley was very lucky compared to other areas. 23 houses and seven vinyards, many businsses lost. No loss of life in the valley for which we are truly grateful. Over the hill they are not so lucky. And there are fires in NSW also with loss of homes and lives. 173 lives lost and hundreds unaccounted for. It will take weeks of searching and specialists doing victim identification to know the toll. 650 homes lost and 5000 made homeless in one day. Innie, you are right. If we could pipe the water down from Queensland we could help them and us. We have had drough for several years now, we're on water restrictions and have about 30% reserve inour dams. They are inundated and in danger. We'd have to build dams up there and pipes to send it around the place. Ironic that we are the driest continent and are undergoing such a huge monsoon. In Victoria the hot weather is due again next week. We have has a cool respite, After peaking at 47.8 it is not about 23. I hope we do not see those extreme temperatures again. Thanks for all your well wishing, Natascha www.abc.net.au/news/ |
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Post by Katryna on Feb 9, 2009 19:19:50 GMT -5
N - Thank you for sharing your experience. I am thankful that you and your friends are safe. I have not had time to watch any of the news reports, so this is the most detailed accounting I have had and it sounds positively harrowing!
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Post by rducasey on Feb 9, 2009 19:48:29 GMT -5
Our thoughts are with all our Aussie Friends. The news reports are so frightening, and the devastation and loss of life is horrific. I am glad to know you are all safe, and N that was quite a scarey experience, but glad that your friends are ok. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all and will be until this comes to an end. Keep us informed. Take care.
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Post by Kasman on Feb 9, 2009 21:26:16 GMT -5
Our thoughts are with all our Aussie Friends. The news reports are so frightening, and the devastation and loss of life is horrific. I am glad to know you are all safe, and N that was quite a scarey experience, but glad that your friends are ok. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all and will be until this comes to an end. Keep us informed. Take care. It's horrible stuff. Victoria has really copped it with fires the last few years. BTW, we don't call them "wildfires" in Australia - they're called "bushfires". |
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Post by bjobsessed on Feb 9, 2009 21:57:24 GMT -5
I saw pictures of the fires on the news. All I can say is I'm glad all you guys are safe and I'm so sorry for those who have lost their homes and or loved ones. They look positively awful. I heard that some of them may have been set on purpose which makes the whole thing even more tragic and senseless.
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Post by Dreamfire on Feb 10, 2009 2:31:46 GMT -5
I'll let you know if more happens. Worst thing is that some of these intentionally set fires were putout and then relit. c  an you believe it? I almost can't. |
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Post by inuvik on Feb 10, 2009 12:50:54 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing that, Natasha. I'm so glad your friend and her family are safe. That was a very close call!
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Post by bjobsessed on Feb 10, 2009 18:31:49 GMT -5
I'll let you know if more happens. Worst thing is that some of these intentionally set fires were putout and then relit. c an you believe it? I almost can't. I did not hear that. Who would do that??? Obviously someone who has no care for life at all. That's terrible. |
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Post by Dreamfire on Feb 11, 2009 3:03:13 GMT -5
Here is a feel good story from the fires. Animal lovers go "awww!" ('scuse the swearingof the firefighter) www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25038852-661,00.html |
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an you believe it? I almost can't.