Post by DechuckaPost by FranPost by DechuckaPost by DechuckaNow that I'm having a few days off some comments on the fires
Nice to see you back dechucka. I hope you get some well deserved
rest. I won't call you a hero as I know you all seem to hate that
but I would like to say that I appreciate your efforts and those of
your fellow firies.
Post by Dechucka1) They were not CAUSED by AGW but AGW made the conditions ripe for
catastrophic fire
2) The vast vast majority of the fires were not caused by arson
rather by the normal causes of lightening strikes, arcing
electricity wires, stupidity etc. Why do people lie?
3) SloMo's response was disgusting, first he disappeared and then
he tried to blame his lack of leadership and response on the
States. His God that he likes us to see him worship is a shit and
if anybody else on the Brigade website tells me that 'God" saved
the houses I'll spew.
Yep. But the Premiers were impressive as was Albo and the NSW
Transport Minister - he still is.
David Elliot wasn't he went overseas
Post by Dechucka4) Hazard reduction were put in last year and previously but they
are very resource intensive and the weather conditions were not
ideal (the season for burns is getting shorter due to AGW). The
Greens, ALP et al did not stop them.
5) The community response was great but ill-directed and wasteful,
there is only so much food firies can eat/food clothes etc the
burnt out need.
Yep. We donated a wad of cash.
Thank-you!!!!!
It's the least we could do to show support for the efforts people like
make. And thanks to reading of your brigades efforts on FB I even
upped the amount by a few hundred - so you can claim personal credit
for that addition.
You're getting close to being K/Fed. No heros in our Brigade just people
doing the right thing by our community and trying to get karma points by
helping other places.
:-)) If it makes you happy, don't take the credit for the increase in
our donation (but I still know it was down to you as you are the only
real life firie I know off and I'm bloody impressed that you bloody
silly people go out there and face that scary shit on a daily basis).
Post by DechuckaPost by FranMy Dad was out all the time when the 1960s fires ripped through towns
like Wingello
The '65 fires can't imagine those people fighting a fire like that with
old Bedford trucks and none of the modern equipment
We had some of it stored at our place and it was seriously crap stuff.
I dunno how they did it either.
Post by Dechuckawhen a school friend's family lost her house and I have
Post by Franbeen really upset at how my favourite little south cast town being
devastated.
Wingello copped it bad, absolutely devastating to respond there and all
one could see was an orange glow from a crowning fire as we went into
property protection. One of the properties lost was the old service
station which was a lovely old building.
I recall from the 60s fires that (according to the local word at the
time) the name "wingello" menas 'place of fire' in whatever aboriginal
lingo covered that area. Wouldn't surprise me given it's location.
Post by DechuckaPost by FranPost by DechuckaPeople were doing the right thing but the amount of food that was at
The Oaks RFS station, for example, was way way to much and I believe
ended up with disposal problems.
Yep, we would have given food or clothes directly to people if they
were neighbours but in this situation where we are miles away, we
couldn't see any point in doing anything other than giving cash. I've
cooked and delivered things to the local brigade, but this situation
is not at all like that.
I'm not knocking peoples donations as it is greatly appreciated knowing
there is that support. However in the recovery stage cash is best it seems.
Yep to both of those. Give food/clothes if there is a hungry/naked
person beside you or send food/clothes if asked for IMMEDIATE urgent
need, otherwise do as asked and after just a couple of days cash became
the declared need. It's a similar thing for Op shops - people often
donate unwanted but shill somewhat useuable things but the Op shops
often have to pay for them to go to the tip. Defeats the purpose of
donating IMO.
Post by DechuckaPost by FranOn the other hand the kid who came round and
Post by Dechuckagave us little Christmas presents on Christmas Eve at Hilltop and the
disabled kid who gave my Brigade 'scratchies' wishing us to be lucky
brought tears to my eyes
:-)) I can understand that.
Post by DechuckaPost by Dechucka6) The ABC coverage was superb but a lot of the other coverage was
sensationalist crap. Why stick a microphone in someones face after
they've lost their house and ask them "How do you feel"?
7) A Royal Commission is a waste of time
Yep. Put the many millions towards building some houses or
facilities in some of the tiny towns that got creamed.
EXACTLY The head of the Firefighters Union had the right idea, go
back and look at all the enquires that have been run over the last 10
years and implement some of those suggestions
Yep.
Post by DechuckaPost by Dechucka8) Wonder if the the local Brigades and those people who have lost
everything will ever see the $millions donated and promised.
I certainly hope so. Follow Peter Logue at Cobargo on Twitter -
interesting commentary so far.
Heard this morning that the ACCC or whoever keeps an eye on charities
will be auditing 'Fire Charities' to make sure the money goes where
it should. Great start
Yep. I had read where one firie (a young chap) had asked his family
to gie him a new helmet for Xmas as the one his brigade gave him was
not good enough. Do local Brigades accept donations?
They do.
Thanks. I'll see if our local mob need anything.
I wear the issued helmet but I know some people prefer the
Post by Dechuckakevlar helmets. I find them to heavy but I'm an old fart, each to their own.
Post by FranPost by DechuckaPost by DechuckaOh well the major dangers seem to be mainly over for now so this
will all probably quietly disappear from the agenda till next
time/month/year when it happens again
I don't think it will be quite like that. Finally the stupid voters
who returned the LNP seem to have woken up and finally are angry.
Of course it wont' stop rusted on voters from either side from
voting in their traditional rusted on way but it might have caused a
few of them to ask a few more questions.
Couple of years till the next election but this may be SloMos New
Orleans Cyclone moment (hope this reference to Bush is right)
Oh shit yeah! And yes, the bush reference is accurate, a picture of
him in a plane flying over and not on the ground. Cobargo is ScoMo's
moment.
I was neutral to him as a PM (as bad as the others) but his lack of
leadership has shown deep flaws in him as a leader which I can't accept.
:-)) I became more jaundiced much earlier than you.
I was neutral on him at the start of the last campaign but by the end of
it, I'd decided he was as bad as Abbott and would not be a good PM. He,
and his Scotty from Marketing/Liar from the Shire spin, have not
disappointed me - he's as useless as I thought he'd be.