Remembering Black Saturday

07 February 2010 0:00

Celebrated Aussie writer Kathy Lette shares with Australian Times her hope for recovery in the communities touched by the Black Saturday fires, ahead of this week's one year anniversary of that tragic day.

editor@australiantimes.co.uk

By Ashlea Maher

This Sunday, February 7, marks the anniversary of one of the most tragic and devastating episodes in Australian history, Black Saturday.

Survivors are still grappling with the disaster in which the fires were as fierce as they were unforgiving.

A year on and the rebuilding of lives and property continues. Money raised in the UK towards reconstruction is producing positive results.

Celebrated Australian author, and London resident, Kathy Lette was instrumental in organising last year’s London memorial service at Westminster Abbey and a fundraising event which raised £30,000 for the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

She spoke to Australian Times about how the terrible events affected her and about her hopes for recovery in the communities touched by the fires, one year on.

Ms Lette remembered the feelings of sadness that she and every Aussie in the UK felt at the time.

"The expat community was hurting. We felt so helpless, watching from the other side of the globe, as our fellow country men and women suffered so terribly,” Ms Lette said.

She recalled how worried expats were about their families, feeling a sense of separation and concern about the safety of their loved ones, as well as their nation’s people. 

“We felt very isolated and grief-stricken and were desperate to show solidarity with our country men and women,” Ms Lette said.

“The memorial service was a mark of respect and also raised funds for the victims. Australians are hardened to bushfires.  Floods, drought, fires – we’re used to weathering extreme weather, but nothing could prepare us for this gut-wrenching catastrophe,” Ms Lette added.

Staying in touch

Reflecting her sense of compassion for the communities, Kathy Lette revealed that she still keeps in contact with many of the local schools, such as Kinglake Primary.

“They were very touched by the support which came in from London,” she said.

The money raised in the UK for the Red Cross was distributed by the Victorian Government’s Department of Human Services.

Many projects funded through the $193 million Rebuilding Together Plan were currently underway across Gippsland. 

The money raised in London has helped to establish community centres in many Gippsland towns including Callignee, Taralgon, Traralgon, Mirboo, Tarra Bulga, Jeeralang and Koornalla.

The generous response in the wake of the disaster proved that expats’ hearts and minds are still at home.


A tragedy remembered

The worst bushfires in Australia history claimed 173 lives, injured 5,000 people, destroyed 2,029 homes, killed countless animals and burnt over 4,500 square kilometres of land.

Australians in the UK could only watch and worry in isolation as their nation suffered.

While no-one who did not endure the horrors of Black Saturday can ever understand what its victims went through, all Australians, including those in the UK, stand with them in sympathy and solidarity this week and into the future.

A year on and people, like the land, are recovering at different speeds in different circumstances.

While the Royal Commission report on the disaster is not due until mid-year, interim findings have declared that the high command of the Country Fire Authority was unequal to the task on Black Saturday.

Regardless, the rebuilding process is well under way. By last month, 1400-plus building permits had been issued.

According to the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, about 60 per cent of residents who lost their homes have decided to stay and the authority has constructed temporary accommodation for 300 people while they rebuild.

However, many self-employed families are not back in business.

Helping to raise awareness and over £30,000 at the services in March were high profile Australians in the UK: Kathy Lette, Jessica Rudd, Sarah Brown, Simon Burke and Rolf Harris. Servies also were attended by Prince Charles and Camilla, and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his wife Therese Rein.

“To you, this great Australian community, in this great city, we say thank-you,” Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said at the time.

"The Australian expat community continues to feel pain caused by separation after what was a frustrating period for many during this time."

A further £25,000 was raised at a charity event at the Shepherd’s Bush Walkabout.


2010 rememberance servives

An official service will be held at St Paul’s in Melbourne to commemorate the ocassion.

In recognition of the national significance of the day, the national flag at Parliament House in Canberra will be flown at half-mast, accompanying various commemorations taking place across Australia.

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