East Gippsland is one region among many affected by disastrous
bushfires. Three quarters of it — stretching about 250 km from west to
east and 150 km from south to north — has been burned as I write this:
about 700,000 hectares.
The last two years have been dry with 2019 being the driest on
record, with less than half average rainfall. Fires started by lightning
strikes last November 21. Despite the efforts of professional fire
crews, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and water bombers, the fires
continued and expanded in bursts. Much of the terrain was inaccessible.
On December 30, at 44° Celsius, they raced out of the forests and
devastated communities, including mine at Sarsfield, 12 km from
Bairnsdale. They left our mud brick house but little else, including our
grandsons’ cabin and most of their possessions. Dozens of houses were
lost in Sarsfield and neighbouring Clifton Creek.
We had six weeks of warning and expected to be hit, so we evacuated
in time with what we particularly did not want to lose. Many people had
friends or relatives in Bairnsdale to go to. We used the Organic Centre.
A relief centre was set up by the shire, then an additional one as
evacuee numbers mounted.
