Hello from Australia

It’s Thursday and the bushfires in Victoria are still burning. The temperatures of the previous week of 110 degrees Fahrenheit plus created a tragedy waiting to happen. The devastation is unbelievable. The horror of towns wiped off the map, families trying to recover from the loss of their loved ones, their homes, their lives as they knew them has caused tears in my eyes and everyone here across the country. Everything happened just so fast, there was not enough time for people to escape. They say that the fireball at Kinglake moved uphill at such a fast pace covering 20 kilometres in 5 minutes…….people had little or no warning. 750 homes in that area were destroyed. The flames of the fires were 50 metres high ( approx 164 feet!!!!!) The tiny township of Strathewen has been declared the “Valley of Death”. A bridge that was their only escape route was damaged as the inferno roared through. The stories are sickening of whole families being burnt huddling together in their homes……the Roland family of parents and 2 children, the Zanns family of 3, the Browns and their 3 children ages 3,7,8…..Penny and Melanie Chambers 22 yrs of age died trying to save their horses……the stories are horrific of men and women trying to save their homes, their animals, their photos and not being able in the end to save themselves…..the stories of people being burned alive in their cars trying to escape the flames……………. they say the toll will be at least 300. Rescuers are still sifting through the rubble of several towns, and those who survived are still not allowed back to where their homes once stood. It is amazing how some survived…..one family climber down into a wombat hole (native Aussie animal), others ran to dams and submerged themselves hoping the fire would pass over…… guess you all saw the story of a koala bear that was rescued by a fireman and named Sam….these creatures are normally so shy but this little guy who turned out to be a girl! knew that she needed some moisture. If they get too dehydrated their kidneys shut down. Normally they get moisture that from the eucalyptus leaves…but all the trees were burnt to a cinder…..Sam has burnt paws but recovering….apparently when the fireman found her she put a paw on his arm to let him know she was in pain…….. So many people were separated in the chaos, and the stories of their reunions and finding that their partners are still alive are heartwarming. The resilience of their spirits is so special. They are so happy to be alive having lost so many friends and relatives………….. Everyone here in Australia is struggling with the enormity of the tragedy and those whose lives have been torn apart and turned to the only thing they had left, each other. How can you fathom that some of these fires were started by an arsonist…..what sick human being could have for fun started something so devastating. The police are investigating and hopefully will find the culprits……. Meantime, all of australians are putting their hands in their pockets to donate to the Red Cross……..to try in some way to help those who have lost all…. the stories of heroism and loss continue, the full extent will not be known for a few more days…. this was a black few days in Australia…….my homeland?