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We arrived at the Redesdale Community Hall for a bushdance fundraiser in time for the last of the sunset.
The bushdancing didn’t begin until we were leaving – about 10pm – and after the auctioneer’s vocal cords had a good working out. One of the items auctioned was an amount of olive oil donated by a local producer whose estate had been completely burnt out by the fires that were the cause of the fundraiser.
It was a fairly quiet night. There was plenty of talking, some music in the background, and kids running around like mad things. But still quiet because the subejct matter was sombre, we’d driven between some blacked out paddocks, past one or two ruined properties, and noticed the defence lines around some houses and the unpredictable and few patches of green. The lad was shocked to see the destruction and the lass wept quietly for the sorrow of those who’d lost so much.
We genuinely meant it though when we agreed with the local who’d parked next to us, that it was a top night.
It’s been a slow and careful week. It rose from numbed shock to hectic doing, or trying, or thinking, or shielding and swept to stillness. Sunday was so quiet, light and sound muffled.
I’m not quite ready to be still; I was busy all day Saturday, on my feet, walking through the house, up and down to the studio, doing things, planning, thinking, turning over. There’s a hall cupboard that’s still recovering from my thorough attack (and the thought creeps through, I have a cupboard). A broom rests against a bookcase in the studio, possum crap swept and tossed, boxes lifted and shifted, a laptop blinking on the shelf (and the thought tosses itself through the open door, I have stock to count).
Sunday seemed normal. Cupcakes to plan and bake and ice and decorate; a keen footballer to sign up. We arrive at the club, a little before lunch, knowing that it’s unconstitutional for a footy club not to have a sausage sizzle on sign up day. Proceeds, the sign simply stated, to the family of an under 18s player whose house was lost at St Andrews. We queue in casual lines, and I wonder how many keen footballers aren’t signing up today, here and there.
The decorating of the cupcakes is negotiated, prepared and finally, done. The lass concentrates carefully but she is confident of her skill and knowledge and instructs me on what I ought not to do. It’s a comfort of the everyday, the mixing and talking and smiles and little frustrations. It almost stills me but the thoughts return, others have lost the comfort of everyday.
The light changes so much in a week.
Black Saturday morning. 41C at 11.30am.
Smoke haze sunset as the wind stills
"A terrible beauty is born..."
Handmade Help has started as a long term support for Victorian families who will be rebuilding their lives, their communities and their houses as a consequence of the bushfires. Pip from Meet Me At Mike’s explains it as well.
In addition to monetary donations in the first instance, please consider auctioning a handmade item, with proceeds to the Red Cross. You may wish to bid on an item yourself – there’s some good stuff already up for auction. Over the longer term, several business are drop off points for handmade goods (scarves, hats, blankets, household items etc) that will be distributed at appropriate times. As Pip has stressed, Handmade Help will be liaising with the Red Cross and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal to ensure that items go to those in need.
Volunteers in Nillumbik:
If you wish to volunteer at the Diamond Creek emergency relief centre, please call the Shire Offices on 94333111 and provide your details and availability. A volunteer roster is being drawn up and you will be contacted and offered shifts.
The fire activity has decreased generally overnight though the Healesville Complex is still of concern for us. The weather forecast is heartening: cool, low temperatures and no northerlies. Neither is there any rain but we’ll take what we can get at this stage.
There was a grassfire a kilometre or two from us last night. Given the lack of lightening strike, nearby fires or any fire spotting, the only reasonable conclusion is that some idiot(s) lit it deliberately. It was worrisome – we leapt onto the CFA incident page immediately. They were onto it quickly with four appliances so it was taken care of.
It frightened the lass because we heard sirens for the first time and it coincided with the fly over of Elvis the supercrane, an air ambulance and police chopper.
I woke up this morning to a death toll of 173, with a toll in excess of 200 expected after the police and army have finished checking burnt out cars and homes.
We have a deliberate policy during events like this that we don’t put the television on until after the children in bed. We noticed during the September 11 attacks, when the lad was only 2 and a half, that he became distressed by the images even after a little exposure. Since then we’ve relied on the radio and internet during disaster and attacks – the Bali bombings, tsunami, and bushfires.
Please don’t underestimate the ability of children to absorb information nor overestimate their ability to assess what it means. Shield them from raw information but let them know simply what is happening. Answer questions in their language, simply and honestly. If you and they are safe, let them know that. Talk about what is being done to help the people affected and let them join in any fundraising or assistance. If you know a child who was involved in the fires the our school principal passed on the following advice from counsellors: ask them only two questions (what did you see? how do you feel about that?) and listen. Respond to what they say but don’t lead them.
And lots of hugs help, too.
