Thanks

I’d like to take this opportunity to ask if Jerseygirl is ok. I know that there were fires burning near Adelaide so I hope you and your family are doing fine.

We got the news this morning that the town my extended family lives in was burned to the ground (Marysville). Everyone is ok but there are no houses left.

I hope everyone is ok, they are such terrible fires. This morning over 110 000 hectares (271 815 Acres) were burning across Victoria, and the fires have spread since then to about 300 000 hectares, it’s a lot of fire and a lot of houses burnt down.

Yes, my thoughts go out to those affected too. I’m almost unbelieving of the reports as they arise for this day and age. Death toll in Victoria currently 65

Cassi, thank you. We have not been affected. Only the heat here the last 2 weeks has been awful. My father and brother are CFS volunteers and they had small fires to contend with a few weeks back but thankfully not bad. Actually, my parents just got back today from Vic and had seen one of the affected areas. I had a sister living in Melbourne for the last month and she just left for O/S just last week.

I read about Marysville – an entire town gone! Hope your family are ok! They think some fires were deliberately lit I think anyone that does this and is caught should be charged under the terrorism laws because that’s what it is!

BUT what about you Cassi?? Are you still in QLD? I been wondering all week what area you went to with all the cyclone activity, floods and king tides!

Oh yes, Australia is a happening place at the moment weatherwise isn’t it! Thankfully my sister doesn’t live in tropical QLD any more, she’s in Brisbane so I’ve been faring very well with relatively mild weather and no terrible weather events!

I’m so glad your ok, and that your father & brother have only had monir fires to contend with! I’m fairly sure that after Ash Wednesday people who deliberately light fires and cause deaths can be charged with manslaughter so hopefully they get a serious punishment for such a terrible crime.

The news just seems to worsen. Toll now 126, could exceed 200. I just cannot fathom this – those poor people! Bunnyfoofoo. thankyou for your prayers, the people there certainly need them.

Wow!!! I hope you all stay safe!

BunnyFooFoo – thank you for bringing this to our attention or reminding those who already know. I hope Lisa, one of our other Australian members, is okay.

How tragic. So sad. My thoughts are with everyone there, and Cassi, I am so sorry about the loss your extended family has had to go through. Thank goodness they have their lives, but I know their “life” has changed dramatically now that not only their home has been destroyed, but that that their whole town is gone. I just can’t even imagine.

Thanks for asking BB, I am far away from the fires but our fire fighters bracing themselves as we also have people deliberately lighting fires here and this week is going to be getting hot. Thank goodness for air con for us and all the pets. The poor bunnies would not survive outside.

Thanks for the kind words for those suffering in Australia with the bush fires you are all great.

I was so sad to see the devastating pics in the paper the last few days. How tragic to lose an entire town! Glad to hear you aussie Binkyers are okay.

{{{ Sending prayers to all the people and bunnies down there }}}}

I just want all our Ozzies to know I have had you in my prayers since this whole thing started…that so many have lost life, home and/or family is showing me I am not on my knees enough. (goes back to prayer)

PLEASE, please, everyone be safe! And to all those who have been devastated by these horrific events, may God bless you and lift you up.

Hi everyone, I’ve just popped in for a quick update.

My family are at their wits end because the whole town of marysville has been declared a crime scene and they can’t get back to assess the damage. We’re hoping that one house has survived because my auntie has horses and couldn’t get a float back in time before all the roads were cut off.

IS there anything we can do? I’m thinking that if you have emergency help from the US, like the Red Cross or another organization, we can provide assistance from here and designate its destination for you. I know it’s hot there, but maybe a drop of clothes, food, even pet supplies might be possible. Any way of finding out who is sending immediate help?

{{{{{{{{{{{Prayers for all of Australia}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Pam, that is so generous and thoughtful! The Red Cross is heading up the assistance here. Along with police, Fire services (Most volunteers) and Army and the government has pledged “unlimited” funds. The worst of this happened on Saturday and fire still continue to burn but realisation of the destruction has slowly being coming to light through out the week. The problem in alot of areas is that they’re not accessible. So families are split, those who left in one place and those who stayed, trapped in the region – even though the fire has passed. I don’t know what news coverage you are seeing in the states – but some here are starting to tell of details and it is all so devastating. Still, we are a “lucky country” and people really do pull together to make things better for those who are affected. We are really starting to see this.

I was wondering how our aussie friends were doing and didnt’ get a chance for computer yesterday.   OH that is so horrible a person would deliberately set fires that hurt people and pets etc.  Sick people.

I can’ only imagine what losing everything is like and having to start over.  Terrible.

We’ve come close to this kind of devastation here, but luckily we have been fortunate enough to have rains come along and help put out the fires. I was incensed to hear that as the flames were being doused by the fire departments, some demonic fool was going back and relighting them. What kind of person does something like that?
Please do let us know if there’s anything we can do to help, Jerz. Gosh it feels so frustrating to just be sitting here and watching and not being able to be hands on.
And how long before you guys start getting things like monsoons and such? A deluge might seem like a Godsend, but it will actually cause even more problems. I wonder if people are going to be able to replant or something before that hits so they all aren’t dealing with floods/landslides?

They have raised $60,000,000 so far with donations of clothing food and a lot of other items. Truck owners have given their time to transport this to effected areas.

Donations of food and other necessary items for animals are being donated.

Terrible tragedy but it is great to see how people come together in times like this, open their hearts and pockets to help those in desperate need.