Victorian fire devastation

Words fail me too!! I'm not too proud to admit that watching the news tonight brought me to tears.

Lets pray the weather gives relief soon and that this never happens again!! All of the emergency crews and residents who are doing it tough, you're all bloody heros!!!

This is the worst situation that could be put upon any of us, for those of you that care and would like to help please look for relevent donation availabilities, and give what you can ,,, all the things we joke and laugh about and i;m sure there are many ,matter not at all now ,,, look into your hearts and give to these people who have lost everything ,this is all about what we are AUSIES!!! find where to give , and if you can,, do so ,,,,, this situation is not something that is going to improve.......... not a time to be happy about the wind!!

agree with all.

it's a sad day that will go down in history. thoughts to all those involved.

you know it was 20deg above average today also.

up north is getting hit hard also. not the unfortunate death toll but floods unseen in a very very long time.

My sympathies to all those affected, my respect to the Emergency services trying to battle it


from ABC article
www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-08/dig-deep-for-bushfire-victims-australians-urged/287748

The Victorian Premier John Brumby has launched a Bushfire Appeal Fund to help the victims of the more than 400 bushfires which have swept across the state.

The Victorian Government and the Federal Government will donate $4 million to the appeal, in addition to the $10 million announced earlier today by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund will be set up in conjunction with the Red Cross and will collect cash donations and distribute aid to help bushfire affected communities.

Mr Brumby has urged people to dig deep to help people affected.

"We all grieve with you. So many families; families like yours and mine, now have to rebuild," he said.

"I can promise that we will not stop until you are safe and your lives and communities have been rebuilt."

To contribute to the fund, people can call Red Cross on 1800 811 700.

People affected by the bushfires will also be able to apply for payments as part of the $10 million disaster relief fund set up by the Federal Government.

The money will go to people who were seriously injured or hospitalised, and to those who have lost their homes.

Eligible adults will receive $1,000, and an additional $400 payment will be made per child.

Mr Rudd announced the fund while touring fire-affected areas of country Victoria.

He told reporters in the fire-ravaged Yarra Valley that Centrelink payments are available immediately for anyone needing assistance.

More appeals

Major Brad Halse from the Salvation Army says his organisation has set up its own fire appeal.

"We're doing everything we can to support the firies on the ground," he said.

"We have many teams out feeding them when they come off the front line for breaks. We're trying to assist in that way as part of our normal process.

"In terms of the immediate response and recovery for the victims we've set up an appeal which is meant to complement and supplement whatever the state and federal governments can do."

He says most money raised from the appeal will go to direct cash grants to people as they are registered through the Red Cross, and a small amount will cover the expenses of having emergency services teams on the front line.

"If people have lost their homes as so many - potentially hundreds of families - will have, then we'd like to come alongside and simply act as a conduit for others in the community who are ringing us and saying we'd like to give some money to these families," he said.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Simon Ramsay says the federation has recieved calls offering help with generators, pumps, fuel and fodder.

"We're actually using our local reps to start sourcing what might be available in the way of donations, whether it might be hay or something else, and they're doing that as we speak," he said.

"We've got regional managers out there visiting farmers who might be burnt or are financially strapped."

Thank goodness for that.

Can't help but think Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi, for Tony and Cheryl to keep on sailing whilst their house was burning. Glad they were down there

Thoughts go out to them, really glad to hear they are ok

Any news on Kato, Hopefully he's safe out there

A few diffrent ways to donate....

Victoria Relief Bushfire Fund, if you want to donate directly.

Victoria Bushfire Relief Fund
BSB: 082-001
Account No: 860 046 797

Or to go: https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp to donate through the Red Cross, who are managing the relief fund.

Or call Red Cross on 1800 811 700.

Or Shop at Coles on Friday

Coles to donate this Friday's profits to Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
Coles will donate this Friday's (13 Feb) profits from its 750 stores nationally to the Government's Bushfire Appeal Fund in partnership with the Red Cross.
Customers will also be able to donate to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund at all Coles stores. Donations can be made at all Coles supermarket checkouts from today.
Coles Managing Director Ian McLeod said the bushfire tragedy had touched a number of Coles team members, some of whom have lost loved ones in the fire, and a number who have lost their homes.
"Like everyone in the community, we've been shocked by the devastation these fires have wrought, and we extend our deepest sympathies to those who've suffered loss in this terrible event," Mr McLeod said.
Mr McLeod said the size of this Friday's donation would depend on customer support, but could be several million dollars.
"We hope Australians will help us make this Friday's donation as substantial as possible."
Coles has been helping ground level relief agencies over the weekend, providing essentials such as food, water and toiletries, and will continue to provide additional local support as needed.
Further information,
Jim Cooper
Ph: (03) 9829 4354

my family has donated $50 online by credit card to the red cross.

hope all of you can do the same, it is too easy.

imagine if all of us did the same.

Like greeny said, make a donation and help the poor buggers.
We sat down as a family last night and watched all the news, undescibably sad!!!!
Our daughter wanted to donate her entire savings, she settled for $50.

Back for a bit of R&R before going back. Heres a few photos of Yarram.

About 15 mins away from Yarram

Alberton is about 5 mins out and the time is 4pm ish. Starting to think about what we need to do and not get cooked.

The first night in Yarram was just putting everything out that was burning and stop the town going up.I work for Parks Vic (DSE) so we get paid and we don,t normally do fires on private land or buildings but this was a bit out of the norm. Most of our trucks are "Pigs" ,Landcrusiers with 400lt fire units on the back or "Pigglets", Twin Cabs with 200lt fire units on the back. All very quick and nimble and can get into most places, but not a lot of water.



This was what we spent the rest of the week doing,rakehoe tracks around spot fires in the Tara Bulga National Park, which is above Yarram. Most of these fires are unknown and pose a big problem if they get out and become larger.We try and get to them before that happens


Typical "Goat Country" that we worked in


This spot fire was 1.5km around(GPS) or 3 km if you include the up and down bits.
The Yarram fires were very small compared to the rest of the country,the fire front is 165km long and only 11km has been tracked (rakehoe,dozered or blacked out)
so a bit more work to do.

Well done to all the CFA people they do a great job

Fire approaching from backyard. Intense stuff at 2min.

www.liveleak.com/view?i=405_1234500415