Victorian Bushfires
09-02-2009
(Aussie date convention – day-month-year!)
Hi all,
just wanted to mark my sense of mourning and sadness at seeing my beloved home state of Victoria go up in flames. As a former Gippsland resident of 23 years, with most of my friends and family residing in the South Gippsland and Latrobe Valley regions, it has been devastating to see whole townships lost, and over one hundred people lost. After a frightening, unprecedented heatwave, and arsonists deliberately lighting fires, the state is in a sense of shock.
My thoughts go out to all who have been affected personally by the tragedy, and my commendation to the brave firefighters (including some of my family) who stood strong in the face of incredibly difficult circumstances.
You can send messages of support to the firefighters at http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25024926-661,00.html (The Herald Sun website, one of Victoria’s major newspapers).
You can contribute to the Red Cross’ bushfire appeal at http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm.
The Salvation Army’s call for donations to help those affected by bushfire is at http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV/NEWSRELESE/PC_62629.html.
The St Vincent de Paul Society (“Vinnies”) are also taking donations for the bushfire victims http://www.vinnies.org.au/show_appeal.cfm?table=appeals&parentid=0&id=63.
(All links accessed 9 February 2009.)
bev langby
the news last night was heart breaking and i did say prayers for all down there also heard that the news reader Brian Naylor and his wife perished in the fire , the people who light these fires should be shot…….Thanks for the links sweetie
take care
hugz bev
flokot replied
Hi, and thanks for commenting. Yes, I heard about Brian Naylor and his wife too (The Age newspaper has an article on this at http://www.theage.com.au/national/tributes-for-newsman-brian-naylor-and-wife-20090209-81bt.html.)
It has been absolutely terrible, and devastating to hear that many fires were probably deliberately lit. I’ve just read that interstate and New Zealand firefighters are being flown in to help, too (http://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw-crews-arrive-nz-help-on-way-20090209-81ga.html)
Apparently Prime Minister Rudd has said that the deliberately lit fires that have caused death amount to mass murder (http://www.theage.com.au/national/arson-probe-at-all-fire-areas-20090209-8195.html). I do wonder if this will be part of the process when any arsonists are arrested.
Thanks for your prayers, our state needs them – heatwaves, fires, over a hundred people killed, not to mention that terrible case last week where a little girl died after being thrown from the West Gate Bridge… it’s terribly sad and just too close to home
bev langby
Well lets hope Mr Rudd will bring in some law for punishment for these things as the laws are too soft on these people ….......oh that was so sad those poor parents and i include him cause he could not have been in a good state of mind to do a thing like that to his own child ….......she was the sweetest child i saw a photo of her , bless her heart….....
flokot replied
yes, it’s been crazy, hasn’t it? terribly sad :-(