Comment

Comment by Sue Corbett on February 13, 2009 at 10:53am

Leanne, i'm so glad to hear you're ok. I hope your mum & dad have been evacuated? I grew up in a bushfire area in Sydney, so i understand how frightening bushfires are. i didn't hear the results from last night's telethon, but i believe an amazing amount of money has been raised so far. About $70m or thereabouts? i'm not sure. Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban even put in half a mill. Where i live now (near the Queensland border), there are collection points all over the place for people to drop off food, clothing and other essential stuff, plus cash for the fire victims. EVERYONE is devastated at the destruction and loss of life.

I've heard from another Vic lady too, you may know her (Jacqui) - another drag racer. Her house was saved (the fire was only 5mtrs from their house when the wind changed), but 9 homes right behind her have been lost. So she's taken it on herself to become the local neighbourhood spokesperson dealing with the media, fund raising etc - as well as working with the necessary people to help make it a safer place to live in future.

Comment by Leanne Braggs on February 13, 2009 at 9:51am

Thanks guys,
I guess you have heard all about it, but a few of the latest facts. 181 confirmed deaths. 1066 houses to date lost. Over 400,000 hectares (988,000 acres) burnt. There are still many fires burning and only this morning there is now an urgent threat to Healesville - my home town and where my parents live. It is not over yet. There tragically will be more devastation, but hopefully nothing like the ferocity of Saturday and people will be able to react to any new threats. Saturday's fire is said to have been traveling at speeds of 100kph and up to 130kph - a bit hard to out run that and it came on everyone so quickly. Heat at the ground is mentioned at 900 deg c (1650f) and 2000 deg c (3600f) at the tops of the trees and in the fire balls that were nothing short of the equivalent of nuclear bombs.
Here is a link to some photos: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/bushfires_in_victoria_australi.html (sorry I can't get it to be a hyperlink, but you can copy and paste to browser.)
Our 1320x day has been put on hold due to activity in the area. Not sure, but I think that the track etc is OK, but getting there, we would have to go through many affected areas.
Australians do pull together, to date, the Red Cross along with others has raised over $10million and the government as been very proactive. Everyone will get through this, but the bar has been set so much higher as to what has to happen next time we get a day like what was forecast.
From a very smokey Victoria, Australia
Leanne

Comment by AKA/CAMOMAN on February 13, 2009 at 12:39am

yes hope everybody is getting thru this it has to be hard and may the lord give all of you the strength to get thru this hardship.