Fire devastation A man with a heart
A newspaper photo taken by Russell Vickery about fires in Gippsland, for viewing in a time of distress for many Victorians. Any proceeds from sale of this image to go to Wildlife Appeal in support of wildlife care in a time of need. Story about Sam the Koala that went with this photo was written by Megan McNaught in Herald Sun newspaper.
Fires have taken many lives in Victoria, people have been unable to escape fire fronts in fierce winds & the highest radiant heat temperatures on record. I have posted this Photo taken by Russell Vickery, taken in an extraordinary moment of compassion. Animals are suffering unable to outrun the speed of fires, the land is burned black & homes destroyed, people devastated. 4,000 firefighters still battling 33 bushfires round the state even now & fortunately temperatures have dropped. February 7th was a black black day for Victoria, highest recorded temperatures on record, (47 degrees Gippsland) the day fires lit up across the state. 181 deaths- people trapped in cars & houses, unbelievable heartbreak.
The ‘leave early or defend policy’ has to be reviewed when fires fanned by winds can travel 20 km in a few minutes and with not enough warning. Radiant heat and smoke too intense for escape, no water, radio or TV, phone homelines when needed. Support from round the country is pouring in and the CFA is doing its very best to contain fire fronts.
Fire devastation A man with a heart belongs to the following groups:
Current Issues and PixElations - The Art of Photoshop
H M Bascom
What an extraordinary photograph! But even more extraordinary is the compassion this person shows to the helpless koala! This is what it means to love all living things! Thank you so much for sharing this photograph! I hope for the safety of all creatures, great and small.
Christopher E...
This is how man and animals should get along without the horrific fires to get them there. This shot is a excellent portrayal of what I think God had planned for us when we were created.
Amazing image, thanks so much for posting this!
funkyfacestudio
This is incredible….........beautiful portrait of love, trust and compassion ! truly heart wrenching !
Kelly J
Oh I loved this when I saw it…... it is so sad though… I did see some others in a vet on television, they were so frightened… the loss is enormous.. :(
rosepepper
Thanks guys, It is an extraodinary photograph and this little koala Sam has become very famous. Sam later found to be female is now in care for about 5 months with burned feet. The story goes that David with a CFA mate Russell, who took the photo, stopped the firetruck & Sam ‘plonked herself down, as if to say I’m beat’. David offered her a drink and she had 3 bottles. “The most amazing part was when she grabbed my hand. I will never forget it” says David. David & Russell were called minutes later for an emergency to save a house. Soon after Sam was picked up by wildlife carers. She is one of 22 koalas, 14 ringtale possums, several wallabies & eastern grey kangaroos handed into Gippsland carers. This story was written in the Herald Sun Feb 11 by Megan McNaught to uplift the spirit in a time of doom. It certainly did for me and I agree with you Christopher, yes we are in it together.
missashapoopoo
When i saw this, it just blew me away! How thisty she must of been…and what a great story, her being saved, nutured and now cared for…apparently she’ll be o.k. which is great news after seeing her being rescued…i truly hope they find the ‘yobbo’ that did this…
missashapoopoo
Good on you for putting this pic out there! An image i will never forget…
rosepepper replied
thanks mara. Sam is a star in the wildlife care centre with her feet all bound up, comfortable drinking water from a bottle and still bewildered by her terrible experience…. many animals have been rescued by the wonderful wildlife carers & firefighters.
missashapoopoo
I hear sam has found a boyfriend called ‘bob’!! right on valentines day too!! It was touch and go for bob from what i hear…nothing like abit of love to get you through the hard times… these animals need our support too, it’s really sad and to think some ‘yobbo’ did this…i hope they catch the people that did this…i’m hearing so many stories…too many….so many souls lost…i can only imagine how it felt, i real live nightmare…i live in the bush and have thought about fires, to see what can happen, farout it’s scary…to see the after effects of a fire, it’s terrible…i really feel for these people and animals..i’ll be doing my bit and donating for sure…
rosepepper replied
love all round, how bewww.diful. lol! Yep I saw another pic of Sam looking very pleased with herself… too much. I used to live in Boolarra & work in Mirboo North so kinda feel close to this one. Looks like they may have found the culprit who lit the Churchill fires, no wonder he didn’t turn up in court today…hmm & will be going to Melbourne for the hearing away from the locals who have lost loved ones. Keep safe mara, the bush will regenerate & the animals return I hope. Love the cartoonist who drew the cartoon of the firefighters taking a well earned rest with their backs against a big log drinking bottled water with Sam just lounging their alongside them doing the same! Need some laughter too… :)
missashapoopoo
didn’t see that cartoon but it does sound funny…yeah i heard they caught someone, a 39 yr old!!
wildlife-appeal
rose, could we add this photo to the wildlife-appeal
rosepepper replied
yes of course… I posted the image hoping to help in some small way, to uplift people’s spirit & raise awareness of wildlife suffering.. well done to you guys for getting the appeal going… tremendous efforts on RB to help in such difficult times for Victorians, thanks so much.
adgray
Rose I have an article with this shot in it also Here
It has had 100 hits a day and so I will add a link through to here on it also and perhaps boost sales! Every bit helps the Cause – So far the Red Cross appeal has raised $94MILLION !!!! so much in just one week!
Chookas Gal, all together we shall help! xXx
rosepepper replied
Many thanks adgray, your page is amazing! Incredible… fundraising everywhere, towns working together all over the state to raise money through events and functions of all descriptions. So sorry for the people in Marysville and Kinglake who had no chance at all..to rebuild a town from scratch!! ...and eveyone else, all of them …. Good onya for putting it out there on RB so people can talk & start to heal… :)
JaneAParis
I was so sad to hear of all the destruction and devastation in Austrailia due to the fires. We all need each other don’t we, especially after loss and trauma. What a sad yet lovely photo. Smiles from Jane.
rosepepper replied
Many thanks Jane, so true that people need each other & the animals too need our help sometimes.
wildlife-appeal
This image has affected many many people,and it told me that I just had to do something for the poor little mites that have suffered horrendous injuries from the fires.
I joined the wildlife appeal and have donated a;; of my works to WRAP until April.I am hapy to say I made my first donation yesterday 4/3/09 and pray to God that plenty of people dig deep to just buy a card from the many images available on the wildlife-appeal Group.
Come on..lets do this together for the SILENT VICTIMS!
Cynthia
rosepepper replied
the image disturbed & moved me too.. just thinking of how thirsty an animal that doesnt drink water (usually getting it from gum leaves) must have been to do this. We must never forget how many animals suffered as well as people. The community here continues to work to raise money for all victims and the people of Victoria (& elsewhere) have shown their heart is in the right place. Thanks Cynthia & well done on getting the Wildlife appeal on RB going.
Adam Gormley
This is a brilliant photo, I havn’t seen it before, and I’m glad you could share it, thanks very much! It’s good to see this kind of act between 2 creatures of planet earth, that we all share :)
rosepepper replied
thanks Adam. i like the amazing creatures on your page & will be returning to have a closer look. :)