The Victorian Bushfire disaster.

[XR8GRL]

I cannot imagine what these people have gone through with the bushfires, watching the news and seeing pictures on the net really breaks my heart.

I can't type out here on a public forum what I think of the arsonists, looters and the scum who have started up fake charities. However, I am such a proud Australian to see everyone coming together to help those in this tragedy.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Firstly i would like to offer my families heart felt sympathy for the victims of this horrendous situation..this is a time when words just cant say enough though. ……. Edited to save space ………

I’m also a little tired of certain elements of the media and their tactics when I comes to getting their stories. Also, since when do “some” reporters feel the need to wear orange overalls when they are reporting stories around the Whittlesea area? Does this make them feel like they are part of the CFA?

I’m growing tired of many news networks, who in my opinion, seem to be cashing in on the grief of those affected for commercial gain. The 5 o’clock news, live from the command post. The six o’clock news live, ACA, TT etc, live from the affected areas.

What’s bloody next, Australia’s funniest home videos, live from the disaster area?

I’m well aware of having a media presence in the area, but why do these networks feel the need to have shows broadcast from there instead of having live crosses to reporters on site? This is not the time for “in your face” journalism.

I do not need to see the face of a man who’s just discovered that his wife and children have perished to understand the pain he feels.

End rant.

[BadMac]

CAR maker GM Holden will provide 300 vehicles to help victims of the Victoria fires
The company said the loan vehicles would be provided to people in need for a period of between three and 12 months.

A spokesman said Holden was currently working with the Victorian Government to determine how the cars would be allocated and distributed.

Holden had previously pledged a cash donation to the Red Cross bushfires appeal of $US100,000 ($152,340) through the GM Foundation.

The company said Holden dealers around the country had also raised $193,982.

http://www.news.com.au/business/stor...-31037,00.html

[Rob's 76 Effy]

Full noise i think your statement is a little over the top, ppl from other state want to know whats happening and you'll find most ppl interveiwed want to tell there story, this is big news not only here in Oz but right around the world, but i will agree with you i dont think they should be in towns that have been wiped out, staging sites and the tent city's is fair though but i respect your opinion as i hope you will mine,

Anyway was just watching TT and saw the new weapon in fighting bushfires from the States, it makes the Choppers (Elvis) look out of date and minuute (6000ltr's)
It's the 747 water bomber with a massive 90000ltr's hold, it comes from the makers of Air Force 1 and the Jumbo piggyback for the Space Shuttle, the Vic and NSW Gov have already made enquires about it and they say one should be ready for next years fire season, they have one built aready and is under going tests, man this thing looks awesome dumping that much water, it can dump a full load all at once or in stages, just a pity it was not ready for this deadly season, i just hope the ppl when caught (if indeed it was all set by fire bugs) never get to see the light of day again and should be made to dig every single grave by hand

[Auslandau]

I will stick up for the media a little ...... yes they are a pain in the way they come across sometimes, pushing there way into peoples lives ..... but, without the reports from the radio, print and TV, they have done a damn good job in showing how bad, how terrible the plight, how much is required and have done so much in instigating the amount of monies raised and donations required.

Listening to 3AW, taking out the bit of the self importance of some there, I really do beleive they have helped to get things moving, to get people together and help those find others that were misplaced. They have direct contact with those who need things done and those who can get things done! 3AW and ABC radio have really helped the cause in a big way and without it ..... it would be just a news story ..... it would be very quickly out of peoples minds .... except for those that directly effected.



| [/url] |

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Explorer_Me

Full Noise. I think your statement is a little over the top.

Originally Posted by auslandau

I will stick up for the media a little.

Yeah, point taken.

I guess I can fly off the handle sometimes. I do agree that 3AW have been doing a great job in helping out. It’s more the “I’m the media, let me in” types that grind my gears, like the two people from Channel 9 that the police kindly escorted away from their crime scene.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

Yeah, point taken.

They can be a very annoying self centred bunch most of the times though so no probs at all

Just for those who dont see the Knight cartoons from the Herald Sun, he manages to put across the way things are just so well.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/








And of course I had to add this one ......





| [/url] |

[rodderz]

haha... yes Knight's cartoons are a classic! He seems to get the funniest caricature of the pollies too

[Rob's 76 Effy]

Full noise you weren't flying of the handle just voicing an opinion, we all know that the media can be in your face at the wrong times, look i'm a hard nut to crack but seeing this on tele iv'e even had welling up in the eyes listernng to ppl's escapes and there loses, i just come to grips that this type of thing can happen by ppl in our communities that set fires and put Ozzie families lives at risk, the worst is yet to come when the funerals all start.

[Jason[98.EL]]

yup he has always been good

i like the first one

[Falcon4L]

I dont know if this has been posted already. But some 15 year old kid started a fire on the yarra river in ivanhoe east at 1600 today. I dont know what is going through his head, but at that age I definately knew right from wrong.


Also on a side note I thought I'd share a really disapointing experience I had. On monday I went to volunteer and donate my time as a sparky to hook up generators which they needed people to do and had no one. I went and spoke to the bloke looking for people but he knocked me back because I wasnt in the ETU! I was outraged and any chance the ETU ever had of me joining up is now gone and I will make sure none of my friends join, It's not like I was stealing their work.

[zetec]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

I’m also a little tired of certain elements of the media and their tactics when I comes to getting their stories. Also, since when do “some” reporters feel the need to wear orange overalls when they are reporting stories around the Whittlesea area? Does this make them feel like they are part of the CFA?

I’m growing tired of many news networks, who in my opinion, seem to be cashing in on the grief of those affected for commercial gain. The 5 o’clock news, live from the command post. The six o’clock news live, ACA, TT etc, live from the affected areas.

What’s bloody next, Australia’s funniest home videos, live from the disaster area?

I’m well aware of having a media presence in the area, but why do these networks feel the need to have shows broadcast from there instead of having live crosses to reporters on site? This is not the time for “in your face” journalism.

I do not need to see the face of a man who’s just discovered that his wife and children have perished to understand the pain he feels.

End rant.

Logies anyone?

[ford man xf]

Well the Channel 9 Tele-thon has helped put the total donations well over $75 million and the donations coming through from people are amazing, most of them big ones, for once in a long time I truly feel proud to be Australian.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Falcon4L

Also, on a side note I thought I'd share a really disapointing experience I had.

Don’t let it get you down. Unfortunately these things happen.

The main thing is that you tried to help and many people, myself included, look up to you for that.

I’m sure that Penny and Mel would also be very proud of you.

[Miss_Aly]

Close friend of ours lives in Kinglake, he was very lucky as he was staying at his girlfriends place. He was able to go back to K.L yesterday after his Tuesday effort, the CFA wouldn't let him in. He found his house still standing with the fire just reaching the back fence. Very Very Lucky

[rodderz]

Originally Posted by Falcon4L

Also on a side note I thought I'd share a really disapointing experience I had. On monday I went to volunteer and donate my time as a sparky to hook up generators which they needed people to do and had no one. I went and spoke to the bloke looking for people but he knocked me back because I wasnt in the ETU! I was outraged and any chance the ETU ever had of me joining up is now gone and I will make sure none of my friends join, It's not like I was stealing their work.

Some of the red tape can be a pain. I spose they want to make sure all things are safe...but yeah.

Up in qld Ergon energy have to hire a sparky to change a light bulb! Probably 10secs work for a 1-2 minimum callout charge!

I'm going to sort something out with some local suppliers to design and implement some more fire-freindly gardens once people start rebuilding again, to help out. Those concrete block fireproof rooms/bunkers could be an idea too. On another note I had a guy who's house burnt down say the paving we did was the only thing left! He was in good spirits for a person who's neighbours all perished on Bald Spur Rd

[DoreSlamR]

I'm guessing ETU is a union of some sort?

You would think being volunteer work it wouldn't matter.

[Bent8]

Nationwide, Telstra employee's have donated over $550,000 so far with Telstra adding another $750,000...great effort everyone!

I feel proud to have helped setup 50 phone lines for the Telethon room today.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by DoreSlamR

I'm guessing ETU is a union of some sort?

You would think being volunteer work it wouldn't matter.

Yeah they're a union.
The ETU actually stopped production at BHP 50 times in one year.

I've had to deal with them and will cause all sorts of troubles if they don't get they're way even when they're wrong.

Anyway, did they get that Ivanhoe fire under control?

Also the Healsville seem to be lacking in a lot of supplies (the other basis seem to be pretty good) and they are trying to service the worst effected area's.

[Clint Eastwood]

know one has mentioned that the ETU and there members are on the ground helping with the relief effort,just rubbished them??

Any news on the amount raised on ch 9 last night? I heard around 20million?

[BlackLS]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood

know one has mentioned that the ETU and there members are on the ground helping with the relief effort,just rubbished them??

Any news on the amount raised on ch 9 last night? I heard around 20million?

Yeah but it defies all logic that they are preventing non-ETU members from giving a helping hand. Its like if I was volunteering in a soup kitchen and I turned a volunteer away because of their race.

It was around $25 mil.

[Falcon4L]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood

know one has mentioned that the ETU and there members are on the ground helping with the relief effort,just rubbished them??

Any news on the amount raised on ch 9 last night? I heard around 20million?

Thats because non union members arent allowed to be there.

I'm not rubbishing their members mate, I just dont like the fact that I cant help because I'm not in the ETU. I'm just as good a sparky as anyone in the union, and the fact that I cant help because I dont pay 500 odd dollars a year is rubbish.

[dannyxm]

http://au.video.yahoo.com/network/10...6886&l=3964878

Not sure if this link was put up earlier, but it shows a bloke who ran down the street to save his beloved Valiant AP6. 'His wife is not happy!!'

[BadMac]

I guess there won't be many 39 years olds from Churchill so somebody here may know who this is.

Police arrested a suspect today in connection to one of the deadly wildfires in southern Australia that killed more than 180 people and left about 7,000 homeless.

Police did not release any details about the suspect, but a newspaper report said he was a 39-year-old man who would likely be charged with arson causing death in what police call the Churchill fire.

At least 21 people died in the Churchill fire, one of hundreds that scorched Victoria state last Saturday, destroying almost 2,000 homes. The official death toll is 181 and is expected to exceed 200.

Officials have vowed to pursue murder charges against alleged arsonists if the evidence supports it.

After The Age newspaper published a report about the arrest on its website, Victoria state police spokeswoman Marika Fengler confirmed to The Associated Press that a man had been arrested in connection to the Churchill fire. She would give no further details.

The newspaper reported that the man was from Churchill and was expected to appear in court later Friday.

The report came as a blaze in the nearly burned-out wildfire zone flared up and menaced the town of Healesville - in a reminder that the country's worst fire disaster may not be over yet.

In one of more than a dozen blazes firefighters still struggled to contain, flames hit a patch of extra-dry timber in a valley about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from Healesville, flaring up and sending embers and smoke over the town, said Stuart Ord of Victoria state's Department of Sustainability and the Environment.

The Country Fire Authority said later Friday that the immediate threat to homes had eased, but warned residents to remain vigilant.

The scale of the disaster became clearer Friday. The tally of homes destroyed in the wave of wildfires that swept Victoria state a week ago jumped to more than 1,800. The Victorian government also raised the number of people left homeless, to 7,000.

Today's developments came as 150 detectives in a special task force combed through the devastation.

The final toll could rise as high as 300. Two other men were arrested near Taggerty, north of Melbourne, yesterday morning in relation to "suspicious behaviour" between Seymour and Yea.

Police said the investigation was in its initial stages and provided no further details.

Fury at arsonists has soared as police confirmed that as well as the Gippsland deaths, arsonists may have been responsible for the fire that almost completely razed the township of Marysville, where the death toll could rise to 100. So far eight deaths have been confirmed in the town.

And even as firefighters battled to save more lives and property, two fires were deliberately lit near Beechworth, in northeast Victoria, on Tuesday night. The outbreaks were controlled before they could cause further significant damage to an already ravaged area.

In New South Wales, where a review of the state's arson laws was launched this week, two people have been charged with lighting fires.

Major bushfires have also been burning in that state.

Jason Nicholas Farrell, 31, of Sydney, was refused bail on a charge of lighting a fire near Gosford on Saturday, and a 15-year-old boy has been charged with starting another blaze in the Blue Mountains. NSW Premier Nathan Rees said that bushfire arson carried a maximum penalty of 25 years and that no mercy would be shown to convicted firebugs. "We will throw the book at you," he said.

His anger has been reflected in Canberra, where federal authorities warned that arsonists convicted of setting fires that caused death could be charged with murder. "This is simply murder on a grand scale," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, urging a new drive against firebugs.

Arson is likely to be discussed by federal and state ministers at the next meeting of the Council of Australian Governments, which urged national action in its inquiry into the 2003 bushfires that swept across southeast Australia.

Earlier, an Australian Institute of Criminology study warned that as many as 50 per cent of the nation's bushfires were deliberately lit.

[Nappa]

the man accused of lighting the Churchill fires has also been charged with processing child pornography. if he is guilty lets hope they lay on the maximum penalty

[Spanrz]

Originally Posted by danny888

http://au.video.yahoo.com/network/10...6886&l=3964878

Not sure if this link was put up earlier, but it shows a bloke who ran down the street to save his beloved Valiant AP6. 'His wife is not happy!!'

Yeah the TV reports kept showing that vid. I was wondering after all those repeating vids if he would ever get to his car.

We had a raffle today at work for the Fire Appeal, up for the raffle prize was a HD vid camera (donated).
The tickets were selling like hotcakes. Spent $20 to a great cause.
Each book collected about $166, must of been over 6 books sold already.

[CAMS290]

I was up in the bushfire area from Whittlesea to Kinglake today, i was carting asphalt from Montrose for Vic Roads on the Yea Whittlesea Rd.
We had to get registered yesterday, and Boral asked us if we were "able to cope" with some distressing scenes before we were allowed to go up there.
I came in from the Whittlesea end, and went through 2 road blocks, and started the big climb up towards Humevale, I have been watching on the news like most people, but I wasn't prepared for the TOTAL and UTTER devastation that confronted me.

I took some pics, we were working outside what was once a million dollar hobby farm, with big wrought iron gates, sadly two people were killed in the fire.
The road from Pheasant Creek to Kinglake is littered with burnt cars, burnt houses and total devastation.

Some houses are still standing, sheds are burnt, but houses are not touched, and vice versa. Power poles are totally gone, with just a pile of insulators on the ground, transformers have blown up and covered the main road with oil.

Today has left me with images that will stay with me all my life, I cannot imagine what the wonderful CFA crews, Police, SES and the Men and Women on the front line saw.......you all deserve to be called "Heroes", no doubt there will be some very traumatised people after all this has been cleaned up, and some of those people are going to need some counselling to deal with what they saw.

[Daymoe]

We had a huge fund raiser at school today, the VCAL kids had a BBQ and food was cheap and cinnamon donuts were 50 cents each

The food crapped all over the crappy catering company we have running our canteen and it was way cheaper too. Plus people running around with donation boxes which got even more money and a casual clothes day which cost us $3 to wear casual

1100 people in the school, so thats around $3000+ just there, not including food or other donations, all proceeds go to the appeal

We also had a teachers vs students basketball game, for a non contact game there were heaps of elbows and hip and shoulders going on haha.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Nappa

the man accused of lighting the Churchill fires has also been charged with processing child pornography. if he is guilty lets hope they lay on the maximum penalty

this guy also has a lawyer. probably just doing his job but how on earth can lawyers defend people like this. has already stated he is psychologically unwell. they don't deserve a defense if you ask me. mass murder is where its at!!

[Sorted]

Originally Posted by danny888

http://au.video.yahoo.com/network/10...6886&l=3964878

Not sure if this link was put up earlier, but it shows a bloke who ran down the street to save his beloved Valiant AP6. 'His wife is not happy!!'

I talked about that all week to everyone and wondered if he got out alive - that was insane

I was amazed how fast the fire was coming up the road

He didn't have his car insured that's why he had to save it - IDIOT!!!!

Gambling his live as he wanted to save a few $100 not paying insurance as he thought it would never happen to him............

If my Charger was in the same situation there would be no chance i would risk my life to go get it like he did - lucky it started in all the heat.......

Glad he is alive but what an idiot act.............