During the bushfires here in Melbourne, some of my relatives lost all as they ran for their lives.  The Flowerdale street I lived in for 3 years has only 10% of homes standing.  The home Chris and I stayed in in Marysville is gone along with almost all of that most picturesque and beautiful mountain town.

These were not affluent places.  For many people these were the homes they had struggled to afford, often built themselves and 25% of those who lost their homes were uninsured and the fires were so sudden and so fierce that warning was impossible and most escaped with only the clothes they were wearing.

Almost 200 people lost their lives.  People lost family, friends, neighbors.  Many many more people were injured and 3000 people became homeless.  Thousands of pets and wild bush animals perished and those which survived had to be rescued to avoid death from injuries and hunger now there was nothing left for them to eat.

For all of us our lives have changed.  And we need something that not only helps those directly effected by the bushfires, but unites us all in our love of this scorched land.

Below is a copy of an email by the organiser of a big benefit concert with all the proceeds going to Bendigo Bank’s Bushfire Relief Fund.

I urge Melbournians to come to the Rock ‘n’ Rebuild concert on Saturday March 7th for Bushfire Relief. I would be glad to meet them as my band, Donna & The Aspinauts will be playing on the day along with an incredible talented line up of performers and bands including exciting Melbourne band, The Vagrants.

Donna and The Aspinauts will also perform a song, What Used To Be, which we are hoping to soon release with all proceeds to Bendigo Bank Bushfire Relief Appeal.

Hope you can make it.

Warmly,

Donna Williams
author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.myspace.com/donnaandtheaspinauts

Rock ‘n’ Rebuild – by Kaine Marsh

There is no doubt that the bush fires that have devastated Victoria in the last few days has either affected you personally, through someone you know or love or are related too, or just the events themselves have made you realise how precious life is.

I was supposed to be up in Kinglake helping my best mate, when I got stopped at several places trying to reach him. I was stranded in Yarra Glen for 7 hours, only receiving random messages from both my mate, who was fighting for his life, and my wife, who only knew I was trapped in the fires.

Days later, with much loved photo’s and memorabilia gone, friends and family missing, or most likely no longer with us, the brutal and over-whelming reality is that these events can no longer be even put in words.

There’s not a moment where I think, be it awake or asleep, why I’m not where I should be, why I can’t help more or do SOMETHING that will make things right. It’s nearly killed me. So I figured, rather than it kill me while doing nothing, I’ll do it by doing what I do best – getting together a bunch of people and musicians who can make such a noise that everyone in the world will know the story of our courageous, strong-willed, amazing people in the bush. And thus, the ‘Rock ‘n’ Rebuild’ concert idea was born.

The Rock ‘n’ Rebuild concert has several goals. Most importantly, it is to raise money for the many victims of the fires that are STILL mauling our beautiful country. It is to collect goods, clothes and otherwise, that these people have lost. And finally, it is to hear and learn of the sad stories of those we’ve lost and the unbelievable stories of braveness, luck and blind persistence – and there are so many of these wonderful stories, the stories that will help ‘Rebuild’ the many towns we’ve lost.

What Can I Do??
Attend the concert, offer a helping hand, play on the day, tell everyone you know or tell your story – show these people you feel their pain and that your willing to do something about it.

Date?
Saturday 7th March 12noon – 12midnight

Where?
Hurstbridge High Oval, Graysharps Rd, Hurstbridge (accessible to Hurstbridge Station)

Cost?
$5 per person, $20 per family.

What’s Happening?
Headlining will be an incredible Melbourne band, The Vagrants, supported by a wide range of high calibre bands and funky inter-arts performers (including Donna Williams & The Aspinauts

There’ll be a huge community BBQ, drinks and an incredible community spirit as we all pull together to support those effected by the bushfires.

All proceeds will go to the Bendigo Bank Bushfire Relief Appeal.

PLEASE forward this email on to ANYONE who you think may want to help/contribute/attend.

FINSTAR PRODUCTIONS