Words By Virginia Connor.
When lightning ignited a fire in the Currowan forest west of Termeil on the 25th November, few people imagined the chain of events that would unfold. A year of very low rainfall and higher-than-average temperatures had established perfect bushfire conditions.
In the following weeks, record heat and strong winds saw the blaze engulf more than 300,000 hectares of bush and devastate towns and coastal villages across the district. Instead of welcoming visitors to our idyllic seaside summer holiday destination, the community was left grappling with fear and loss while still determined to maintain a sense of care and support for those whose lives were irrevocably changed.
The resilience of this community comes from the strength and courage of individuals. It also springs from the kindness and generosity that has been demonstrated time and again during and since the tragic events. It will take time, but with these characteristics so abundant in our community, it’s clear that recovery has already commenced.
WILLINGA PARK
Willinga Park at Bawley Point was featured in Issue #6. The 2000-acre equestrian centre boasts award-winning architecture and world-class competition and conference facilities.
The fire reached Willinga Park on the night of December 2nd. The property’s owner, Terry Snow, and his team had long been preparing for such an event. “We’d been clearing fuel on the ground, creating buffer zones and installing our own power and water sources for years,” says Terry. “With 650 head of cattle and 120 horses, we weren’t going anywhere, so we had to be prepared … but it was very frightening.”
Facing 50-metre flames, the Willinga Park team worked for three days ensuring that the property suffered minimal damage and helping to prevent the fire from impacting on the nearby, local village. Terry also credits the RFS with doing a fantastic job and praises the skill of the helicopter pilots water bombing throughout the drama.
Terry emphasised that the preparedness of the team enhanced their confidence. “Being well-prepared and resourced increases your luck, but the team worked really hard, it was a tremendous effort. Some staff members are with the local RFS, including property manager Chadd Percival, so we had good information as to what was happening and where. We ended up in pretty good shape here.”
“A few of our staff also worked on the Milton fires on December 31st and I take my hat off to them,” Terry reflects. “We were shattered to hear of what happened elsewhere in the district with people losing everything —so much sadness. It will take a long time to recover.”
Terry marvels at the endurance of people when faced with incredible adversity. “There are some really tough individuals around. It’s an Australian characteristic borne from past experience of a harsh environment and it will take us into the future too. We are a resilient lot.”
Moving forward, the management of our region’s parks and forests and the ongoing threat of major fires to wildlife and property are of deep concern to Terry. “I hope that resource allocation to National Parks and Wildlife is given much-needed attention. Increases to funding and improved landcare practices would be a positive outcome of the tragedy.”
Since the fires, activities have returned to normal at Willinga Park. “We’re getting on with it and looking forward to some rain … we’re not on our own there,” Terry concedes. “When the country regenerates and is green again we will really appreciate it.”
DEAN DAMPNEY
Photojournalist and Tabourie local, Dean Dampney, was featured in Issue #2 and is a regular contributor to White Wash.
When the fires first encroached on nearby Termeil, Dean recalls feelings of helplessness. “I was surfing great waves with some guys and we were all feeling guilty. We wanted to do something but we had no idea what we could do.”
As the fires neared Tabourie, Dean was forced to grapple with conflicting feelings and balancing priorities. “I think men historically are wired to want to do something, take some action. I found myself jumping into that role but not really sure of what action I should be taking.”
On two separate occasions during the following weeks, Dean’s home was under threat with his family having to evacuate. In hindsight, he has given considerable thought to his response to the crisis and admits to surprising himself with his capacity to confront the dangers presented.
He found it beneficial to focus on preparedness and learning all he could about the science of fires, their characteristics and behaviours. This helped him to consider a range of possible scenarios, and react as best he could.
I think we are more open. There is a greater degree of lovingness and regard for each other,”
Thankfully Dean’s home was not damaged, however, he is very sensitive to the losses suffered by so many. “There’s a lot of trauma but there’s also a lot of positive energy around. It’s going to take time and the needs of the community are greater than we are able to meet. We will need help.”
Dean’s concerns around climate change have led him to bring people together within his extended network to facilitate discussion and positive action, including linking interested landowners with the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Working to raise awareness about environmental issues has helped Dean to feel more positive about the future. “I am giving more of myself and getting more in return.” He’s confident the community’s resilience will be increased through learning from the disaster. “I think we are more open. There is a greater degree of lovingness and regard for each other,” he says with a hint of pride.
Dean’s reflections also focused on the importance of leadership, especially in times of crisis. “We need strong role models. Our children need role models within the family, the community and at a higher level to inspire confidence … and they want to know what’s going on.”
Dean has found he learned a lot about himself during these testing times and along with other Tabourie residents, he plans to join the local RFS.
THE ANDERSONS
The Andersons are seventh-generation dairy farmers at Wickham Hill, north of Milton, and were featured in Issue #8.
On New Year’s Eve, Barney and Janine (Nene) Anderson were camping with family and friends at their ‘cabin’ beside Narrawallee Inlet. The early morning lakeside setting gave no hint of what was to become the most destructive day of the Currowan fire.
Barney left the campsite to check his cows and realised immediately that the increasing temperatures and wind were likely to cause problems. He called Nene and said, “I think you’d better start packing up. We need to be prepared.” Within an hour he was on the phone again while watching black clouds of smoke as big as thunderheads north of their property. “I think Conjola is on fire …”
Just after midday the strong north-westerly winds caused the fire to traverse the highway north of Little Forest and sent flames rampaging across Wickham Hill’s drought-parched paddocks to Barney’s parents’ home and the dairy itself. Fires had also started burning in their paddocks at Croobyar and on the neighbouring dairy owned by Robert Miller.
Our boys, relatives and neighbours were all here and people turned up who I didn’t even know.”
With fires erupting in several places at once, resources were beyond stretched. “It was the perfect storm,” says Barney. “But we were so lucky. Our boys, relatives and neighbours were all here and people turned up who I didn’t even know.”
Barney was impressed with the community spirit he observed during the crisis. “It was like 20 or 30 years ago when we all pitched in and helped each other bringing in silage or whatever. Then we all got too busy. But when the shit hit the fan, everyone was there to help. The guys with the water pods on utes really saved the day,” he adds, marvelling at the relatively low levels of damage sustained to the property.
Nene is tired but very grateful. “I’ve never been so happy to be cleaning up the mess and vacuuming my floor when I think of those people who have lost everything,” she says. “We’ve been lucky but it’s very stressful. The cows have to be milked twice a day, fires or no fires. In a way that keeps things normal.”
Barney shrugs at Nene’s concerns. “We’ll fix the fences and keep going. It’s a couple of weeks’ extra work that we didn’t need but you do what you’ve gotta do … and our boys have really stepped up,” he says proudly.
TURIA PITT
Author, athlete and motivational speaker Turia Pitt was our cover story in Issue #5.
When the smoke from fires obscured the skies of Mollymook it was difficult for Turia to remain calm. Having been injured in a bushfire in 2011, the impact of the sight and smell of thick smoke was visceral and she fought hard not to panic.
“I really had to focus on not letting my emotions and own experiences get the better of me,” says Turia. “I was having recurring nightmares and it was difficult to sleep, eat or think. I just wanted to tap out and pretend nothing was going on.” In the late stages of her second pregnancy, Turia was tired and emotionally spent but she was determined to “keep a lid on things.”
When it came time to return to work, Turia and her marketing manager Grace McBride, struggled to focus after all that had happened. Worried about small business owners who had been hard hit with the loss of summer trade, they thought about ways to help. “Grace came up with the idea to feature local businesses on Instagram,” says Turia. “We were really inspired by the Buy From The Bush campaign and thought we could do something similar to help fire-impacted towns.”
They created an Instagram page called @spendwiththem encouraging people to spend online. It was an overwhelming success with the page attracting 10,000 followers in the first hour. Almost immediately Grace was fielding calls from Today and The Project and within two days they had over 170,000 followers.
The pair was swamped with messages of thanks and stories of much-needed sales. “Profits were donated to the RFS, wildlife funds and other organisations. Locals were employed to pack and ship orders, businesses were saved and lives changed,” says Turia proudly.
The initiative also helped Turia to manage her own emotions and anxiety. “It helped me shift my perspective and focus on what I could actually do to help.”
She is also enormously proud of her hometown, “I didn’t think it was possible but I have even more gratitude for this community. I’ve seen the way we’ve shown up for each other, listened to each other’s stories, supported each other and been endlessly empathetic and generous.”
As we go to press, Turia and her partner Michael have just welcomed their second child Rahiti. We congratulate them on the arrival of their precious son.
NOEL BUTLER
Noel and Trish Butler’s commitment to raising awareness of the value of our native flora was featured in Issue #13.
On Saturday the 4th January Nura Gunyu—their home, garden and learning centre—was destroyed in a firestorm that obliterated hundreds of acres of the surrounding Woodburn Forest. A few of the established native trees will regenerate. However, thousands of plants disintegrated in the blaze leaving those animals that survived with neither shelter nor food.
Despite the shock of seeing their paradise devastated, Trish and Noel immediately started to recreate a haven for the birds and animals, purchasing plants the same day they first saw the blackened remains of their home. “Planting some shrubs was comforting, it gave us a focus,” says Trish. “Feeding the animals and giving back to the earth is what we need to do to help nature recover. My goal is to have 1000 plants in by mid-March,” adds Noel.
The world has been watching this and everyone will be interested in how we recover. We mustn’t forget what has happened here. It’s an opportunity for change.”
As an educator, Noel sees this catastrophe as an opportunity for people and whole communities to learn more about native flora and sustainable land care practices. “This event has impacted everyone. It’s not just a rural issue anymore. People from the cities were also affected. The world has been watching this and everyone will be interested in how we recover. We mustn’t forget what has happened here. It’s an opportunity for change.”
Noel and Trish have received donations and help from within our community, across the nation and internationally. They are very grateful. “People really do care about the environment and humans are community orientated. We need to encourage people in affected areas not to give up and to advocate for changes to government spending on land care and community initiatives. People can take control and help regenerate the environment with thoughtful planting and improved planning,” says Noel.
Noel is passionate about learning from the catastrophe and sharing that knowledge to assist other communities to remediate environmental damage. “Forget about blame, let’s get on with it. We cannot wait for the government to fix this. We all live here and as a strong community, we can help each other and other communities. We don’t need permission to give back to the land—it’s our life. I want people to come back here in spring, and then again twelve months later and be inspired by what we’ve achieved,” says Noel confidently.