20 January, 2003 5:34 PM
This morning V and I went for a walk at 7am (part of our fitness kick). Its a lovely walk normally, especially this time of year when it gets so hot later in the day. This morning was eerie. Melbourne was covered by a blanket of smoke. Instead of the crystal clear sunrise we saw a blood red sun trying to shine through the haze. Visibility was down to under 3km. Its not unusual at this time of year for their to be bush fires on the outskirts of our city and for us therefore to be able to smell smoke - however this morning things were different. There are no major fires within hundreds of kilometers of the city - the smoke had traveled some distance, from the north east of our state where the news report I just heard said fires are burning that rival any in that regions residents memory.
Our nations capital, Canberra, has had the worst effects in of fire in the past week. 400 homes have been lost so far in the past 48 hours - 4 have lost their lives and some of our countries most beautiful forests have been leveled. The news reports that I watched earlier in the day about the Canberra fires were heart breaking. One woman told the story of trying to escape her suburban home in Duffy in her car. The tyres were on fire and yet they drove on - desperate to escape. The car contained her family, pets and a few hastily grabbed mementoes - it was full. Even though the tyres were on fire, people in the street tried to get in - the fire was so intense. In the end she had to lock the car doors because they couldn't fit anyone else in and she had to drive off from those who had no way to get out.
The news services tonight will be filled with more stories like this - more pictures of complete streets of houses gone - more gloomy weather forecasts of hot and windy days with no rain in sight. Australia is experiencing the worst drought its had in decades, some say the worst in centuries - the bush is dry - all it takes is a spark to get an inferno going - things are gloomy. Would you pray for our nation?
Yet in the midst of the heartbreak and chaos there is an Aussie spirit that seems to shine through. Amidst the stories on the news tonight will be stories of firefighters traveling hundreds and thousands of miles to help fight the fire in other states. There will be stories of money and supplies being donated. There will be stories of heroism and of people left with absolutely nothing who still manage to crack a joke or look at the positive of their situation. The Aussie spirit will live on.
PS - Jan is doing some great updates of the fire situation around Australia at her blog - Shalom
