Cobram CFA volunteers take a short break after several days fighting fires.
Photo by
Barb Love
With raging bushfires affecting much of Victoria, leaving farming communities and small rural towns in ashes, it is clear that volunteers within each affected community are the unsung heroes.
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More than 1500 volunteers from around the state have been putting their skills and knowledge together in an effort to stamp out more than 35 major fires in higher than normal temperatures. Wind gusts of a devastating level have only added to the severity of the situation.
Cobram CFA and Tocumwal RFS tankers were involved in burnovers in the early hours of Saturday, January 10.
Both tankers issued mayday calls as fire impacted the vehicles, and outstanding training of the volunteer members ensured the crews implemented procedures that ultimately saved the lives of all on board.
Cobram CFA, with its membership of 42 volunteers, spent six weeks preparing for what looked like being a high fire danger period.
During one period there were 30 power poles on fire, but despite this there was a only a relatively small percentage of homes without power. Sadly, some homes were lost.
The volunteer firies worked the 10km between Yarroweyah and Tungamah and through to Longwood when the situation became dire.
Firefighters have continued to battle out-of-control bushfires throughout Victoria, with more than 400,000 hectares burnt so far. Total fire bans remained in place on Monday and Tuesday in the north-east and north central of the state as temperatures are forecast to reach the mid-30s mid-week before dropping to around the high 20s later in the week.
James Leonard from Dutch Thunder with a koala that needed to be looked after at the shelter.
Photo by
Barb Love
The Cobram SES has also played a major role, and yes, it too is staffed by volunteers, people who every day give their all to make their community safe without being paid.
Around the region, Lindsay Park suffered the tragedy of losing seven of its thoroughbreds.
More than 300 horses were removed from the racing facility with help from friends and many volunteers from the Victorian thoroughbred community, who joined together to organise a number of horse floats. It was nothing short of remarkable to evacuate so many high-spirited horses at the one time.
The bushfire also destroyed paddocks and fencing.
The fires had a devastating impact on multiple horse properties in the Longwood area.
A local winemaker, Matt Fowles, of Fowles Wines, saw his entire vineyard at Avenel burnt, with all grapes and vines blackened and scorched.
“Our whole yard was alight, and we only just saved our home,” he said.
“My uncle's house, 5km down the road, was burnt to the ground, along with four storage sheds.
“Gone was 300 acres of scorched vines, 1500 acres of burnt grazing land and hundreds of dead sheep.”
However, the devastation was to continue for the Fowles family, as two days later Matt and his wife Lu’s home was burnt to the ground too.
“It’s 100 per cent crop failure for the year and the infrastructure too. It’s all burnt,” Matt said.
He said, however, he was heartened, as he had already had a number of offers from fellow winemakers of fruit to enable him to produce some wine for the coming season, and offers to assist in a clean-up as well.
Closer to home, Kylee Donkers and James Leonard of Dutch Thunder Wild Life Shelter, at Koonoomoo, have had little sleep over the past few weeks.
That’s been due to unbelievably high temperatures and young native animals and bird life not only dangerously affected by the heat but experiencing a serious lack of water.
Kylee and James have, in fact, humanely euthanised more than 300 animals, which has devastated this caring couple.
While fires were some distance away from the shelter, they lost all power for some time when the outside temperature went above 44°C, forcing them to ultimately dispose of the thawed food which could not be kept, thereby leaving them in a difficult position of feeding hundreds of animals, all requiring a different menu.
“Everything can be replaced and the community has been just so amazing,” Kylee said.
“We did, however, need to evacuate the critical animals to other carers.
“We had one of our wildlife friends who lost her whole shelter and home and everything she owns, so how can we complain?”
Business people from across Cobram are offering first responders an opportunity to come along for food and drinks as a way of saying thanks.
Red Cross, the Salvos and Youth Club Op Shop are also helping those in need of clothing, bedding and household items.
There is help out there and your community is at the ready. If unsure where to access items you need, contact Moira Shire Council on 5871 9222,
To get immediate fire emergency funds, call the Vic Emergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.
