[/quote] We would so love the Govt to build a pipeline from up north down to Victoria We're in desperate need of water down here but nothing seems to be done. Water catchments down to about 32% now.
Liz that 150 mls wouldn't we just love it [/quote]
Renormalised I wasn't serious about the pipeline. It's something Victorians joke about when there is torrential rain anywhere up north while we're experiencing a 10 year drought down here.
"I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me."
From My Country by Dorothea MacKellar
This part of htis poem seems to tell a bit of of the last day or so in a way. Droughts and with them fires that are out of control, and flooding rains. But it's disheartening to know there are those idiots who go out there and light these fires on purpose. The law is too soft on them.
One thing I do see over and over in these times is that as Australians we always stick together. You just have to look at the support in the IIS community for a start. We're not in this alone. To all who have lost loved ones and property - my heart goes out to you.
I never thought that this would happen (this bad in 1 hour). Lost 5-8 houses, no loss of life, dam lucky the CFA rolled up. They were on their way to Bunyip fires, when they had to turn back.
If they hadn't of turned up, the fire would be still going and there most definately would be deaths.
It's just sad all these people in other areas, died in the fires.
Those firefighters all deserve the highest recognition we can give them. How many of them will be lost before this is over? And they go in knowing this. True heroes!
My complete sympathies go out to those who lost loved ones. I shudder to think what those poor souls went through before losing their lives.
As for those who have deliberately lit fires and are still doing so after seeing what devestation has occured, an eye for an eye I say. Jail is too good for them.
I just had a report from the local CFA that the Kankoona/ Beechworth fire is making it's way solidly up our valley. It is now 20Km from the centre of Mt Beauty and spotting fires all over the valley floor. The temprature is still around 35 degrees but fortunately the wind has dropped.
Looks like this valley has a 3 year fire cycle. 2003, 2006 and now 2009. We are fairly fortunate that our valley has been burnt off so many times it must reduce the ferocity of the fires to some degree.
The cooler weather which has past through Melbourne has again bypassed the North East.
Is it true as mentioned in the press today that the vic RFS has no authority to order people to evacuate areas as a fire approaches ?.
The tragic loss of life today is unbelievable .. yes I know fires are unpredictable and arn't ever the same twice ..But I still can't fathom how so many people were still in the way of this with no way out until the last minute ..
The fire travelled that fast in places and the lack of road networks in semi rural & rural areas meant that people were trapped.
A howling north wind meant that embers started fires well ahead of the actual fire front.This meant that roads were cut off trapping people in their homes.
ABC radio took calls from numerous people last night and early this morning from people trapped in homes with no route of escape.
Only a few km's from my house approx a dozen houses were lost in Narre Warren when a paddock fire took hold in minutes.
People had enough time to get out of the houses before they went up
Current offical death toll is 66
Don't be surprised if this at least doubles.
I have just completed watching Nine's extended News bulletin and I am more shocked than what I have witnessed at work today working in the emergency services. Marysville and Kinglake are towns in name only.
From the Herald Sun website
"UPDATE 8:17pm: GRAVE fears are held for Channel 9 veteran Brian Naylor as the bushfire death toll rises to 76.
Channel 9 has just confirmed that the newsreading legend, who lives in fire-ravaged Kinglake West, can not be accounted for.
In a break in their normal programming, presenter Tony Jones reported that a body believed to be that of Moiree Naylor had been found close to the family's address."
I am reeling in shock and shaking. I have work colleagues fighting the fire still.
Please, all involved and potentially affected, please try to keep up to date on either:
i watched the abc news in horra our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones there property can be replaced all those ice in space members in the area keep safe where thinking of you tonight
mozzie
still burning just above the divide, been very lucky here, ash and stuff falling from the sky, strangely my little part of the yarra valley has been exempt from the devastation. heres a pic looking over towards healesville and the now non existent marysville. taken 4ish on Saturday from my house
fires currently to the east , the south and the worst to the north. safe for now, and unless the weather goes bad again should be ok
Without doubt this a tragedy which plumbs depths of despair which few of us can really appreciate.
We almost lost our house in the Sydney fires of 1994. Ours was a happy conclusion. No so for many others.
The one thing I did do after this very nasty scare was up our house insurance by a factor of two (pre-fire ours was woefully inadequate)
Suggest you all have a good look at the fine print (eg definitions of "valuables" in your insurance policies.
It's very sobering to calculate the cost of losing *everything* material to your life.....let alone family or friends. Have place for those irreplaceable items....and a plan to get out if the worst happens.
We're in desperate need of water down here but nothing seems to be done. Water catchments down to about 32% now.
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