A Horrifying Week

It's difficult to know what to write about the devastating fires that claimed so many lives, homes and communities right on our doorstep. This wasn't something we could watch, detached on the news. We've felt the fear as we waited for news of my brother and his family, who fought the fire storm on their property at St Andrews and saved their lives, home and animals. The awful wait we had must be nothing compared to the terror they have survived. The fires took the lives of friends and relatives of our friends and relatives. Our friends have lost their homes and all their worldly possessions.

As the weekend unfolded, we took photographs. Looking at them again reminds me of just how close to home this disaster has occurred. The choppers flew low over our backyard as they went between water and fire. They used a local school oval as their air base. Fire crews constantly passed through town, and smoke was everywhere.

On Sunday we took Coen to see the helicopters. We had intended to go in, have a look, take a couple of photos and keep out of the way. While we were looking with a couple of other families and a handful of boarders, one of the pilots offered to show us the choppers, in particular the big orange tanker Delilah.

These are some of the photos that Tim and Beck took from Doreen at dusk.

The kindness, courage and selflessness I have seen has amazed me, the grief and loss have broken my heart, every new story of survival and loss brings me to tears, as I struggle to comprehend that this happened on our doorstep, to people we know and love.

Jen