The Fires That Burn In Australia.....

Australia in general, has been in  the midst of catastrophe emergency 'Red Alert' Fires. Lives have been lost fighting the fires or just defending their own homes in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

Although it is a "National Disaster' the responsibility of fire control rests with the State Premiers and Territory Ministers.

While we love our Australian bush, we have to remember that we are a 'sunburn country of droughts and flooding rains'. I've taken this quote as part of 'My Country from Dorothea Mackellar' 'My Country Click here for audio of 'My Country by Dorothera Mackellar

It was written in 1904 and provides true visions, to me of what our country is and was. So by stating this, anyone that doesn't like our country the way it is  as a changing climate from year to year, doesn't need to live here. We need people that appreciate the country we live in. As a country we could accept double the population we have, if we wanted too and yet we are not doing that.

Back to the issue. I have lived in the luxury in City of Sydney  and Western Sydney for  more that 57 years and taking a sea change, which included a country/regional change, I knew what I was in for. Twice in history Sydney experienced  bad fires surrounding the city. What would happen if fires did engulf the entire City how would people, & governments react? I obviously do not wish for this to happen, just opening up conversation.

The Local Shoalhaven Rural Fire Services (RFS) have been using social media in conjunction with Shoalhaven City Council' website and their social Media,  inform of community meetings and afterwards, placing podcasts on Face Book Pages immediately. We are well equip with information about areas affected and could be affected as well as knowing what your fire plan is. That is what is every single individual's fire plan is. 

Click here for details on what is NSW Bush Fire Plan is?

I have been told  recently by a local Rural Fire Services Official that basically it is a 3 part plan:

• Keep your house safe and follow the Fire Plan
• Decide when the right time to leave is and where is are you evacuating too
• If you decide to stay keep informed with social media and  news reports

So  we decided to stay. Was it a risk? Yes, but to us it was a minimal risk. We were safe and we were prepared. Others left, because the RFS  & the NSW Government first requested the tourists from within the area to leave. This will leave a dent in local businesses pockets initially. But it drained the people that came down for a holiday, leaving it easier for Emergency Services to deal with the situation if it headed to affected areas. Did it do what it was suppose to do? Yes.  A win for the NSW Government and Emergency Services and communities.

Now we come to the issue of the Prime Minister to  reduce his holiday, The Prime Minister should not be condemned for taking leave as fires had been going for months. He was due for leave and organised it months before.Putting aside politics he did not have to apologise and a lot opf people I have spoken to agree he has the right to have a holiday. Thee was an Acting Prime Minister in place and I sure the Acting PM would have called the shots as the Prime Minister would have done, in his absence. Here the critics need to be ridiculed. Whether the Prime Minister would have been Paul Keating, John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott or Malcolm Turnbull - the same thoughts are with myself on this.

So, what happens here is 'The Wolf starts crying'. There will be a parliamentary inquiry as to why we haven't got enough volunteers to fight these fires. Out of the politics one side will say ' funds were cut' - the other side will say, ' we have  placed further funds for the provision of strengthening further  potential fires'. And it will go on.

 On the real front, we require proper '  Controlled fire prevention methods in the winter time' to regenerate our bush. Our local Aboriginals would agree that fire regenerate the bush and it is a natural thing. By doing this will reduce the amount of  fuel that fires will go through during the summer. I understand there are party's that  do not want this method to be sued as it will affect animals and  the way our bush appears. Something has to be done.

All in all our volunteer Rural Fire Services need to be with the community's applause for taking on fires in risk of their lives, They are the one's on the fore front that see house saved or lost. Fighting fires is not easy. I take off my cap to these honorable people.

 We also take moments of silence for the ones that lost their lives  as volunteers or fighting for their properties. May you all R.I.P