It's like it's happening on another planet.

[catsidhe]

Ah, fuck.

I know everyone and their dog is posting about this, but... fuck.

Marysville and Kinglake are simply gone.

65 76 84 dead at last count, Brian Naylor (for non-Melbournians, he was the evening news presenter here for decades) is missing, and his wife are among that number.

The flames are encroaching on Bendigo and Beechworth.



And here we are in suburban Melbourne, putting on jackets. After yesterday — the hottest day in the city on record — today is cold and rainy. And past the hills, dozens of people are dead, and entire towns are vanished.



I just... Fuck.

And bushfire season is just beginning.

Comments

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

Oh no..how horrible...

[usuakari.livejournal.com]

Bushfire season actually began a couple of months ago. It varies from area to area but tends to run from October to March.

A hollow, gutted 'Fuck...' about describes it. I have family in the areas, and so much family history in Western Gippsland. As far as my parents and I know all the living are safe, although some have certainly been close to fronts. If anywhere is 'my' country, western Gippsland is it.

I'm waiting to see if St. Jambulance down here will be coming north to relieve Victorian crews. I'm on the shortlist to go. Dad's been working solidly at 3SJ as a comms operator and will be spending a large chunk of the week there I think.

Brian Told Me

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know anyone personally who died in the fires, but I know of Brian Naylor. I grew up watching him read the news, and I've never found anyone else with the skill and capacity to do it so well.

They repeated on the radio this morning his final news bulletin sign off, something like: "and for the last time, may your news be good news, goodnight and farewell". I find it so sad hearing that (I can remember watching his final news bulletin and him saying that, professional to the end).

Perhaps more saddening was a recount of one his neighbours shown on the tv last night. The neighbour recalling how he spoke to Brian just prior to the fires coming through, saying something like: "Now Brian, you're not staying are you, tell me your not staying Brian". The bloke was crying as he recalled. Horribly sad decision to stay. But who was to know the fire would be so ferocious?

There's an almost sad looking photo, given the context, of Brian at his farm in this news article:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/tributes-for-newsman-brian-naylor-and-wife-20090209-81bt.html

For me, that photo summed it all up. RIP.

-- mpp