Ten years on

[Booney]

It's hard to believe it been ten years since my wife , three daughters and our grandson and myself survived the Black Saturday bushfires under a blanket in the back paddock. We were lucky that day, others not so . It's a sad day for us as we remember those who loss so much . Our harts and thoughts are with all those who lost family and friends, animals and homes and to all that supported all of us through our rebuilding . Thank you .
Booney.

 

[StoneTheCrows]

Yep I think Aussies everywhere will reflect this anniversary

 

[Licking windows]

It's hard to believe it been ten years since my wife , three daughters and our grandson and myself survived the Black Saturday bushfires under a blanket in the back paddock. We were lucky that day, others not so . It's a sad day for us as we remember those who loss so much . Our harts and thoughts are with all those who lost family and friends, animals and homes and to all that supported all of us through our rebuilding . Thank you .
Booney.

Hey booney
It certainly is hard to believe its been 10 years, and Im sure like my family that the emotional scares of that dreaded day will still be there till the day we die and the memories of all our friends, neighbors and loved ones who werent so lucky will always be there to. 8.( going up the mountain to kinglake to pay our respects and remember :Y: keep ya chin up booney :Y:
From my family to yours
Kind regards craig

 

[Phoenix76]

Yeah it's amazing that 10 years have flown past. Just read an article in today's Courier Mail (Qld) recalling Black Saturday, and yes, the personal scars are still there.

I wasn't in the fires but I spent a lot of my "misguided" youth in Marysville which was basically wiped off the map. But the people have got together and re-built the town. Don't know if would be the same to me, but for those living and visiting there, all power to you.

Actually, just putting together a CD of photos from my albums to send to the local Historical Society. Some go back beyond 1952, my first recalled visit, as my Mother used to frequent the town way back.

The hardest thing was sitting here in Qld and seeing the names of people I knew in the casualty lists. And I recall that the Courier Mail had a front page photo of Marysville's main street, all burned and blackened. But it didn't make sense, there was something wrong with the photo. I searched maps and my old records, but it wasn't until I got on Google Earth that I realized what was wrong. They had taken the picture one block north of the main road.

Anyway, just a few recollections. Cheers all.

 

[shakergt]

Yes today is yellow ribbon day. I was not there but as a volunteer fire fighter I remember

 

[BigWave]

I remember that day well - with relief (almost took my dogs and fled - kids had left), but the wind turned.
But also with great sadness for those who perished in the turned fire front, or lost loved ones, homes, pets and stock.
That night, from on top of our hill, the horizon to the North and East was ringed with fire.
Awesome, scary but very, very sad.
I have suffered burns and almost died (not in that one), so I know what recovery is like (11 skin grafts later & 7 weeks in trauma & hospitalisation), particularly its effects on family and friends. Memo to me: DON'T EVER GO TO A BURNS UNIT AGAIN!!!!! The recovery pain, drugs/hallucinations, screaming and violence of patients out of their minds was unnerving.
Every Christmas, I go out to greet our brave CFA fireies to give them the applause and thumbs up that they deserve, as they pass throwing treats to the local kids, thinking of their kindness despite a likely terrible past for some/many.
It always brings tears to my eyes, and it will always be like that.

 

[OzzieAu]

I stayed in the Marysville caravan pk. in the week leading up to Black Saturday. We left for home (Adelaide) on the Wednesday after experiencing one of the best little towns in Oz..... we had a fantastic week there, enjoying all the natural attractions on offer, especially Brunos natural art garden, which was just magical.
When we got home and saw what happened just a few days after we left, we were devastated by what we saw on the news.
Also we were relieved that we didnt extend our stay.... couldnt imagine what might have happened if we were still camped in the c/p on that day.
I will never forget that beautiful little town (as it was then)...I must go back at some time to pay my respects.

 

[Redfin]

Just how did it happen.
https://www.theage.com.au/interacti...e-of-destruction-10-years-ago/?resizable=true

 

[Licking windows]

Well we are still in shock and disbelief at the roller coaster of emotions delivered to us yesterday on the tenth anniversary of black Saturday! A little background for you, my son and his partner were expecting there first child :heart: :Y: his partner and her family lost everything that they owned in kinglake ten years ago to the day and escaped with nothing but the clothes on their backs and more importantly their lives 8.( : :brokenh: . The due date was meant to be in a few weeks time , but bubs had other plans and arrived at 11.03 yesterday morning :Y: a healthy baby girl and both mum and baby are all doing well erfect: talk about everyone being shocked and in disbelief as our original plans were to go up to kinglake for the remembrance ceremony and pay our respects for all those who perished that day :flowers: today I honestly feel like Ive been put throu the wringer but the joy of our new little granddaughter makes it all worth while :inlove: :heart: erfect:
WHAT A DAY

 

[Booney]

Thats great news LW congratulations to all your family,a new granddaughter that is just so great to hear We have a young granddaughter as well as a grandson and they are just the greatest givers of joy you can have . Funny how things work out your family will never forget the day and it can now be celebrated in a special happy way best wishes to your family mate . The rememberance ceremony at kinglake was really good, touching but not overdone very respectful and the new memorial at Franky Thomson reserve is very nicely done and well worth a look .Thanks again for your regards .when you do get a chance to go hav a look give me a shout I live just down the road and we can catch up
Cheers Booney

 

[RM Outback]

Congratulations LW :flowers: :beer: that sure is a roller coaster of emotions, all the best to both families.

 

[Licking windows]

Thats great news LW congratulations to all your family,a new granddaughter that is just so great to hear We have a young granddaughter as well as a grandson and they are just the greatest givers of joy you can have . Funny how things work out your family will never forget the day and it can now be celebrated in a special happy way best wishes to your family mate . The rememberance ceremony at kinglake was really good, touching but not overdone very respectful and the new memorial at Franky Thomson reserve is very nicely done and well worth a look .Thanks again for your regards .when you do get a chance to go hav a look give me a shout I live just down the road and we can catch up
Cheers Booney

Gday Booney
Thanks for your kind words mate :Y: youll probably tell me to man up but they brought a little tear to me eye ( ya bugger )
Were not sure if it was good timing or bad timing but yes youre right we can celebrate the day in a happy and very special way now maybe the stress and buildup to yesterdays anniversary was enough to bring on the birth who knows.
Im so happy and relieved that the ceremony was touching, respectful and not over done erfect: Im hoping that you and your family got throu the day okay and things werent to overwhelming for you all. We will be going up to pay our respects at the new memorial in the very near future and Ill definitely take you up on the offer and hopefully meet you guys there erfect:
Thanks again booney and if you ever need a chat please just pm me
Kind regards craig

 

[Licking windows]

Congratulations LW :flowers: :beer: that sure is a roller coaster of emotions, all the best to both families.

Cheers RM , appreciate the words :Y:

 

[goody2shoes]

Congratulations LW :beer: :flowers:

A beautiful granddaughter is the best erfect:

But with all of this a child is born, brings back hope,

Restores humanity...

Hope your son and partner are both doing OK,

PS and the baby girl :flowers:

Goody

 

[Licking windows]

Congratulations LW :beer: :flowers:

A beautiful granddaughter is the best erfect:

But with all of this a child is born, brings back hope,

Restores humanity...

Hope your son and partner are both doing OK,

PS and the baby girl :flowers:

Goody

Thanks Goody and yes all 3 are doing really well erfect:
Im planning on temporarily changing your username name to Goody 1 shoe ! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
:Y:

 

[goody2shoes]

Hahaha you funny bugger :lol: :lol:

 

[Phoenix76]

Ya know, I can fully understand how the fire started at Kilmore East and how it traveled to the Kinglake area. Obviously the northerly wind directed the flow of the fire.

And we know that there was a wind change to a souwester. Now looking at the map that Redfin posted, it doesn't really show what happened to bring the fire to Marysville. The fire at Marysville came in over the Paradise Plains. The firefighter who was up at Mt Gordon could not believe what he was seeing when he spotted this enormous fire coming in from the South/South East. He did his best to get back to town and warn people, but for many it was too late.

I've spent many years living in Marysville in my youth and in Narbethong in my late 20's early 30's, and I cannot recall a fire coming in from there. Maybe Black Friday did, sorta, but I still disbelieve that this happened especially from the original Kilmore East fire. I know that a volunteer firefighter was suspected of setting the Marysville fire. In the end he was exonerated, fair enough.

I know that country so well and I keep looking at the maps of the fires, and I still can't accept what we have been told. And I have read just about everything that has been written about the fires. I've read media reports, personal stories from people in the fire, I've watched and listened to videos on the ground, I've read the stories of people I know who have lived in the area all their lives, but I just don't get it. Maybe I'm just a pig headed old coot who won't be told, but those doubts will always linger.

Cheers all

 

[Manpa]

Congratulations LW, it was meant to be, the universe has a funny way of renewing itself, this is a now a very significant day in your lives for two very different reasons, the sadness and loss of 10 years ago and the joy at the birth of your grandchild. Over the years the joy your granddaughter will bring to you and your family will outweigh the sadness of the fires.
Congratulations to you all.
We have two grandkids on the way, due in September, our first and we can't wait.

 

[Licking windows]

Ya know, I can fully understand how the fire started at Kilmore East and how it traveled to the Kinglake area. Obviously the northerly wind directed the flow of the fire.

And we know that there was a wind change to a southwester. Now looking at the map that Redfin posted, it doesn't really show what happened to bring the fire to Marysville. The fire at Marysville came in over the Paradise Plains. The firefighter who was up at Mt Gordon could not believe what he was seeing when he spotted this enormous fire coming in from the South/South East. He did his best to get back to town and warn people, but for many it was too late.

I've spent many years living in Marysville in my youth and in Narbethong in my late 20's early 30's, and I cannot recall a fire coming in from there. Maybe Black Friday did, sorta, but I still disbelieve that this happened especially from the original Kilmore East fire. I know that a volunteer firefighter was suspected of setting the Marysville fire. In the end he was exonerated, fair enough.

I know that country so well and I keep looking at the maps of the fires, and I still can't accept what we have been told. And I have read just about everything that has been written about the fires. I've read media reports, personal stories from people in the fire, I've watched and listened to videos on the ground, I've read the stories of people I know who have lived in the area all their lives, but I just don't get it. Maybe I'm just a pig headed old coot who won't be told, but those doubts will always linger.

Cheers all

Hi Phoenix 76
One would hope and pray that such a thing would never be deliberately started by anyone and especially not by a CFA member :N:
I will add that there have been rogue CFA members in our area that have been caught committing these type of callous acts but I cannot comment on if this was or wasnt the case in Marysville as I do not know!
What would be safe to assume is that when the Kilmore East Fire front was at the bottom of Kinglake Mountain devastating Strathewen and parts of St. Andrews thats when there was a wind change from the south, south east causing what was already a huge front into a fire front that was kilometres long 10-20-30 kilometres Im not entirely sure to change direction and race up the mountain through Kinglake / Steels Creek and as far to the north as Flowerdale making its way to places like Murrindindi and Narbethong and was reported to have spotted in or around these areas.causing the fire to make its way to Marysville. This is the general theory on how it traveled to Marysville and surrounding areas and it sort of makes sense given the direction of the wind .

 

[Phoenix76]

Hi Phoenix 76
One would hope and pray that such a thing would never be deliberately started by anyone and especially not by a CFA member :N:
I will add that there have been rogue CFA members in our area that have been caught committing these type of callous acts but I cannot comment on if this was or wasnt the case in Marysville as I do not know!
What would be safe to assume is that when the Kilmore East Fire front was at the bottom of Kinglake Mountain devastating Strathewen and parts of St. Andrews thats when there was a wind change from the south, south east causing what was already a huge front into a fire front that was kilometres long 10-20-30 kilometres Im not entirely sure to change direction and race up the mountain through Kinglake / Steels Creek and as far to the north as Flowerdale making its way to places like Murrindindi and Narbethong and was reported to have spotted in or around these areas.causing the fire to make its way to Marysville. This is the general theory on how it traveled to Marysville and surrounding areas and it sort of makes sense given the direction of the wind .

Hi Licking windows

Hear what you are saying mate, but the SW wind change didn't happen until about 6pm. At 6pm the fire was racing in on top of Marysville from the south over Paradise Plains. I fully understand the problem of spotting, seen it too often, but at 6pm the original fire was below Kinglake and actually didn't make it to Flowerdale until just after 11pm. And as I say, at 6pm a fire was hitting Marysville.

The Murrindindi fire started just before 3pm when the wind was still Northerly. Yes perhaps spotting from this fire hit Narbethong, and perhaps possible that it hit Marysville. But keep in mind, the fire that hit Marysville came in over the range from the south.

Dunno old mate, and we never will. But every now and then, particularly on an anniversary, you start to think again. You pull out the maps and look at it all over again. All we can wish is that something like this never happens again, but fire is a big part of living in Australia - Black Friday, Ash Wednesday, Black Saturday, just to name some. Cheers.