There is no real point in me describing the actual facts to you. The actual situation is, in fact, far easier to deal with when dealt purely in specifics and figures: 173 people confirmed dead. More to follow. Entire towns wiped out. 23 fires still burning. Horrible sentences, but simple enough to digest. What is not so simple is digesting the images of terror, destruction and devastation that have graced the great land of Victoria in the past few days. To see is to truly understand. To hear story after story of loss and horror is to truly empathise. The bushfires, those that have become Australia’s worst ever in history, have shaken the nation and the world.
On Saturday, my friends and I enjoyed some relief from the 46-degree-plus temperatures during a weekend away in the country. As we sat in an inflatable pool, cooling down and sharing laughs, a terror was emerging across the state that we were completely unable to fathom. Sure, we heard a whisper that bushfires had broken out, and yes, we’d even spotted and inhaled a little smoke from a small breakout nearby, but we, at least initially, weren’t overly concerned. Hey, we live in the land of the bushfire. The land of the harsh climate and unforgiving sun. We’d had bushfires before and we’d survived. What we didn’t know was that we’d never had anything quite like this bushfire. That came without warning for so many. That travelled so fast. That grew so quickly. That roared quite so loud.
As our weekend unfolded, so too did more information. So too did stress and worry. Some of my friends’ families were in direct threat of the fires. Their night was spent sleeping in their cars, with ABC Radio playing and mobile phone in hand, waiting and crossing their fingers. Thankfully, their stories ended well enough, but it was not the case for so many. The most beautiful and lovely people have been affected by these bushfires. Some have lost their homes, and every possession they used to own. Some have lost their loved ones. Some both. The most beautiful and lovely parts of the state now resemble ravaged war zones. Whole communities have vanished. Whole lives have been destroyed.
In any negative, there is always a positive. And this positive is the community spirit that has exploded in the past few days. The mateship that has erupted. The kindness towards strangers that has moved me as much as the event itself. People have opened their doors to neighbours and random strangers. Relief centres and halls have been inundated with clothing, food, linen and toiletries. Major banks have donated millions, large companies have pledged their daily profits and small companies have made substantial contributions. Radio networks have joined forces and raised, through pledges from the average Joe and Jane Citizen, over two million dollars. The Federal and State Governments are united in their efforts and support. The police and CFA are working at full capacity and volunteers are working tirelessly. Obama has called Rudd. It’s all happening. And so it should.
The bushfires have left us all a little raw. We’re all emotional and exhausted. We’re all distracted. A trip to the city shows less road rage and fewer horn honkers. The music in shops doesn’t seem to blare quite as loud. There is not as much rushing, not as much shoving. People’s faces seem sympathetic. From cafes to bars, everyone is much kinder. Men and women hold the door for those coming in behind them, and give a modest smile as they placidly walk out. And I wonder; why isn’t it always like this? Why aren’t we always so kind? So considerate? It’s as if the trains are filled with smiles, because the people that fill it don’t quite know what you’re going through. Shouldn’t that always be the case? On the news, grown men in flannelette shirts are hugging, tears streaming down their faces. Why was a man crying ever such an issue? Why was it ever frowned upon?
The thing I can’t help but feel, and that I don’t think I should even say, is that sometimes it takes a terrible mess before things can really get clean. Sometimes, when we’ve got too much and think we’re all that, we need to get a massive dose of reality to bring us right back down to earth. And so we have. Victoria is sombre. No one person deserved to be involved in the tragedy that has evolved over the past few days, but here we are. We must stay strong. We must march on. And most of all, we must learn.
Learn that life is not guaranteed and cannot be taken for granted, so live it fully, each and every single day. Learn that compassion and kindness will take you further than $50, and that if you are compassionate and kind, you will one day receive it when you least expect it. Learn that life is actually unfair. That is it cruel and seemingly without reason, but one always presents itself. Learn that hope is alive – that you need it to live, to move on. Learn that heroes are not made up of badges and ranks but every day people. Learn to clean up our act. We must learn how to respect each other once again. We must learn how to respect our environment. We must learn how to be generous and humble. We must learn how to love. And, if you want to start learning, just take a look at the Victorians, and Australians, that have been so generous in the past few days. Learn from the love they have shown, and the compassion. Learn from their kindness. We have shown that we are a nation willing to dig deep, willing to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We have shown real love, in the face of terror and danger. Let us never forget that.
To the families and friends of the people who lost their lives in this terror, may you find peace and may they rest in it. Australia’s heartfelt wishes are with you all.
Anyone wanting to donate to the Bushfire Appeal should visit www.redcross.org.au (or phone 1800 811 700.) You can also directly deposit funds to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund (BSB 082-001, Account number 860-046-797)
*Images Courtesy of davosweeney on flickr.
Hopefully people can go back to the scorched earth that’s left.
“Why isn’t it always like this? Why aren’t we always so kind? So considerate?”
I have noticed the same thoughtfulness from people while going about my everyday business. People are asking “how are you?” and actually meaning it. And so I ask the same questions as you, Sandi. Why does it take something tragic for our better nature to come out more fully? No doubt it is always there, but all of us sometimes get caught up in our own worlds and forget about others.
I have been blown over by the spirit of people right across Australia, especially from the people in these communities banding together, and I feel proud to be an Aussie right now.
Thanks for a great column Sandi. At this point the Trespass team would like to offer our sincerest sympathies to those whose lives, homes, towns and families were ravaged by the destruction that these fires brought with them. Our prayers are with you all, and I think it is a great testament to our beatiful Aussie culture that we are all behind the Victorian people, and doing our best efforts to help them in their time of need.
The thing i’ve noticed in Sydney, as a result of our superiority/inferiority complex is now we’re treating the state of Victoria like there is more than Melbourne. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before.
Kaz – I hope so too. I hope people will help to re-build the beautiful communities that were once there.
Tighe – I too have been blown over by the spirit and generosity that Australia has shown. Every time I read a newspaper I’m floored by how wonderful this country is. May we never lose that spirit. Because that is what it means to be Australian.
Sarah – Here here.
Samuel – Interesting point. Living in Victoria, I suppose we don’t notice it. I think NSW is much more preoccupied with our state, and creating competition. I’ve seen it as headlines on your papers many times, yet I’ve rarely seen them on ours. It’s fantastic that we can be recognised as a state – we’re much, much more than a city. We’ve got amazing beaches and beautiful forests that deserve as much recognition.