On the up side…
Apropos of yesterday, this is what our farm looks like now that it is slashed to prevent fires. The word ‘Sahara’ comes to mind.
Bear in mind that 8 weeks ago, this was IRISH green!
Sheep as safe as we can make them in the home paddock we call the Ski Run.
When my son delivered a ute load of square bales of hay (24) to the collection centre yesterday, Rebecca White (State labour member for Lyons. Good pics on her https://twitter.com/bec_white link) almost hugged him, saying, ‘SMALL BALES! Can you spare any more as we have no way of feeding out all the donated round bales on the damaged farms. All machinery is burned.’
The fact is we have hay to spare, so at 6.30 AM today, OH was at the gate waiting for the large horse-truck that came to collect –
a lady and her father who have horses of their own have donated their own hay as well, and their truck to cart fodder for this initiative.
They took 80 bales and are collecting another 80 from us tonight.
Whilst loading, they were telling my husband about human nature – the generosity, the kindness, the belief that ‘There for the grace of the Fates go I’. Of course there are the other less profoundly kind beings, like the horse owner whose property wasn’t burned, whose stock was fine, but who came to get a freeload anyway. The horse owners who are coming in DEMANDING special grains, mixes etc. (like this is a time to be picky!) and the supermarket in a town where trapped residents have existed for almost a week and which gouged its prices ever upward. It just makes you realise that the generous folk are all the more special, doesn’t it?
They then joined up with all the other providers of water, food, pet supplies, generators, fuel etc. on the Sorell football oval to head in a police convoy to the Peninsula.
Three cheers for them all!
How tragic! But it would be more tragic if you lost everything. How wonderful that people are coming together to help. Sending you safe thoughts…
Thanks Anne. We are quite safe and i think that even though the fires still burn, the pressure cooker atmosphere is not so bad which allows all these help agencies to begin their work.
Your farm may not be Irish green for now, but it looks so neat and tidy, and I bet you feel easier knowing it’s safer! Big cheers for you and everyone donating stockfeed. It’s always the fate of the animals that worries me most. I am appalled at the person who wanted the free feed despite having no real need for it. What is it with some people? Have they no conscience? And as for that supermarket…. Words fail. But thank God for the people who are selfless and generous. Like I said, these situations really bring out the best in people (shame on those to whom it brings out the selfish worst!) I am very lucky that in my area of suburban Perth we are not in any fire danger. Housing estates may not be as pretty as the forest areas but at least we don’t have that threat.
The animals worry me too, Nikalee. But the RAS of Tas has offered free agistment for all sorts of animals at the Hobart showgrounds. All the vet hospitals and the RSPCA etc are offering free agistment for cats and dogs and treating hurt pets and wild animals for nothing. The support ‘out there’ is heartwarming!
That’s so wonderful!!
I have been searching for a couple of days for the right words to comment, Prue, but they just won’t come. So much loss – the mind boggles. I hope the generosity and the pulling together you are describing give people the courage to start again, when the time is right.
As for the agents of sleaze, some always crawl out of the woodwork, but I’ve found them usually in the minority, while people who in ordinarily wouldn’t give you the time of day will invite you to share what they have. Until things are back to normal, of course.
My thoughts are with you all on your beautiful island. I was so sad to hear about it, and you must be devastated.
It is more remarkable as stories are discovered of luck and good fortune as well as the more negative things. I know you will be thinking of all those affected by the fires and am very grateful on their behalf.
We’ve had cool-ish weather the last few days, but it’s such a hot summer and we have another forecast heat wave on Wed-Thurs. Everything is crackling. The fire that caused such sadness is still burning and we hope it will stay well clear of the remaining little villages in the area. In House’s garden, trees and shrubs which had rocketed with the winter and spring rains are now turning yellow with stress. At the townhouse, deciduous trees are beginning to cast leaves, the lawn is brown and wildlife is coming down from the bush and demolishing my loved plants (some of which were given to me by a rare plant gardener. I can’t believe I’m hoping for cooler weather when I crave summer all year. So unlike me!