Fire

It is beyond my ability to comprehend the devastation of the Victorian bushfires. People killed, homes destroyed, entire towns reduced to ash and rubble. How big is 100,000 hectares anyway?

I have a special affection for north-east Victoria, having travelled though Whittlesea, King Lake, Flowerdale, Yea on my way to Mt Buller since I was just a baby. Marysville too - a beautiful town where I have enjoyed several holidays. It is so unfair that towns and communities in these areas have been subject to so much suffering.


Feeling sad, feeling useless... much like the rest of those who look-on via the media reports. Everyone wants to do something, give money, time, belongings. But most of all people seem to want to give belongings. Maybe it is the need to give something of oneself... somehow money seems so impersonal. And yet money is the most useful - easily transferred and easy to convert into whatever is needed.

I think there needs to be a central coordinating agency for donations during times of disasters - something to take the load off agencies like Red Cross and Salvos. An agency that can spring into action at times like this and is capable of efficiently receiving and distributing cash, goods and services, as well as coordinating the efforts of volunteers. It is very disappointing to see so much willingness within the community to offer help (in addition to money) and yet this capacity is not efficiently harnessed. It is even more frustrating to think that this willingness to help will no doubt taper off over the next few months, when in fact it needs to be sustained as there will be many long term projects that would benefit from voluntary help.