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Survivor
... a house in the worst-affected suburb of Duffy, which
somehow escaped the firestorm’s destructive power on
January 18. Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper
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Defending
his patch on the day
By
Cpl Belinda Mepham
“IF YOU stay here you may not have a path to escape from in
a minute – you need to evacuate now,” was the advice from
Emergency Services on January 18.
Logistics
Officer for 1JPAU(P) Capt Graeme Henley and his partner Barbara
had an agreement that they would abandon the fight for their home
in the suburb of Holder if it started to burn or they were told
to evacuate by authorities.
Capt
Henley said when they drove away to the evacuation centre they were
prepared to come back to nothing.
“The
spot fires were right on our neighbours and the telegraph poles
I had been putting out all day were still burning in the middle,”
he said.
He
said the most important lesson he had learnt from this experience
was one of being prepared.
“Following
advice from authorities, knowing your surroundings, having the next
step in your mind and being aware of the risks and danger you will
face could mean saving or losing your home.”
He
said Everybody in his street had come together to defend their patch
and through the sustained danger that lasted for more than a week
there was a remarkable sense of community.
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