I’m really rather shell shocked.  First we had the heatwave from hell, then record temperatures the day the fires began to rage.  Quickly, I had to think of our own home with a fire 2 km down the road.  And then were the names of the towns on fire, Kinglake, Flowerdale, Healesville, Marysville, Mernda… places were nieces and nephews and cousins lived.  And the phones that never answered.  And the days we simply worried. 

First my younger brother’s children were ok, they’d spent the weekend in the inner suburbs with him and in Healesville their house had been saved.

Next, my older brother’s house was gone, and with it he and my niece lost all but the clothes on their backs, her horses lost to the fire.

And the cousin and her young family, a girl 4, a boy 3.  Finally, I got hold of her sister.  The family had been trapped, rescued by fire fighters, cars ablaze, they escaped in their clothes, the pets perishing.   I found they were staying in the CBD, blessed with a mattress on the floor and the kids in with grandma who’d been visiting with the fires hit.

I spoke to my cousin’s husband, his eyes harmed by smoke, nothing but the clothes he wore.  I’ve got a picture of the kids, I said, telling him my cousin had sent it to me.  I’ll get it to you, I continued.  He broke into tears of relief that someone had some photos.  I reminded him many people may have emailed photos they could print out.  A ray of hope to regain cherished memories, broke through the darkness for that moment.

Quickly people gathered clothes and toys.  Car filled with gathered goods I went to drop things off.  The 4 year old was happy to see someone familiar.  She told me her pony is dead now.  Then told me her rabbit is dead now.  She won’t change her underwear.  It’s Monday.  She’s wearing those from the fire on Saturday.  She looked daunted and said sadly, quietly, protectively, “They’re my old clothes, my only old clothes”.  And its hard to not cry when a kid breaks your heart like that.  But I didn’t.  And we explored the toys and clothes together and I left knowing I’d be lucky enough to see them again.

My cousin and her husband headed back to register today.  Others will be out in the suburbs too traumatised to yet go register or without transport to do so.  So have hope.

For those still looking for relatives and friends the number is 1800 727077

But sadly this may not be the end.   Scientists warned it would happen.  And the ways we’re responding, whilst noble, will not solve the fact we are heading for more of these in the near future.

Donna Williams

http://www.donnawilliams.net