Black Saturday 09

"Hell in all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria..." said the Prime Minister.

Melbourne’s hottest day on record turned into Australia's worst natural disaster. The final toll will be well over 200 dead and over 1000 homes lost. And while human lives lost are the greatest tragedy, the ongoing consequences of appalling injuries, particularly burns will bring daily reminders of this day for many years to come.

This blog is a dedicated to those who experienced at firsthand the bushfire tragedy of Saturday February 7th in Victoria Australia. It is dedicated to those who died in Kinglake and Marysville, in Arthur's Creek and Mudgegonga, in Bendigo and Strathewan, in St Andrew's, Callignee, Yarra Glen, Wandong, Humevale, Jeeralang, Narbethong, Koornalla, Hazelwood, Taggerty, Flowerdale, Hazeldene, Clonbinane, Heathcote Junction, Steeles Creek and Upper Callignee. And it is dedicated to those who have lost them. It is dedicated to women and men, families and children who have been injured, who have lost their homes, who have lost their pets and livestock, who have lost their photo albums, who have seen their life’s savings burnt to the ground. And it is dedicated to all the tireless professionals and volunteers, firefighters, police, churches and community groups who worked and still work to do what must be done.

This is a place where they can tell their story and be heard. As the headlines fade and the majority of Australians move on to new news, there are thousands of people who are still in shock and still running on adrenaline. In the weeks to come the horror will sink deep into their lives and hearts. While most of us continue insulated from tragedy the survivors will grieve and remember Black Saturday 2009 every day of their life.

If my own experience of grief is typical, then it will help these people and their friends to have a public place to share their stories. A place where they can tell it first hand but not be overwhlemed by well wishers.

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