The Victorian Bushfire disaster.

[Keepleft]

Nagging Wife Saves Family From Bushfire

(I note the $1,000 fire proof door that buckled, see Babble link for story n pic).

Seven months pregnant Nicole Berry had begged and begged her husband Andrew to build a fire bunker behind their water tank in the rural town of Kinglake, Victoria, worried that sprinklers would not do enough to protect their timber home.

http://www.babble.com.au/2009/02/09/...from-bushfire/

[CAMS290]

Further down the Kinglake Heidelberg Rd heading towards St Andrews today, its probably the worst affected area as far as native fauna goes that i have sween so far....the heat must of been unbelievable !

All these pics were taken in the same area, there is a large concrete water tank that is still full, it would of been just too dangerous to get anywhere near it, it is about 5 kays down the road from Kinglake.....luckily no houses down here, just what is left of the national park.

[BadMac]

From the NZHerald tonight.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news...ectid=10557052

Accused arsonist angry at girlfriend's rejection
UPDATED 7:58PM NZDT Monday Feb 16, 2009

A screengrab of Sokaluk's MySpace page [see link, note pic is of text, not his image!!].

A 39-year-old man accused of lighting a bushfire that killed at least 21 people in Victoria had recently been rejected by a girlfriend, according to his MySpace internet page.

Brendan Sokaluk was also preoccupied with falling in love and getting married.

The fire he is charged over, in the Gippsland town at Churchill in the southeast of the state, burnt out more than 30,000 hectares and killed 21 people.

Sokaluk lived in Churchill, was once a volunteer in a CFA brigade that fought that fire and once worked as a gardener at a university.

On the website's homepage, he attacks a former girlfriend among rants full of spelling mistakes.

"I'm a young happy male who wants to meet a young loven female to marrid," he writes.

"My interest are to enjoy life to the fallest and not with ...... because she r***s behind your back and lies a lot.

"I'd like to meet my sole mate not some old hag.

"Sex sells but love larst for ever."

Sokaluk writes: "l don,t read books because they put me to sleep. my heroe is mother earth with out her we all would be dead."

Sokaluk was remanded in custody on Monday to appear at a committal mention on May 26.

He has been charged with one count of arson causing death, one count of intentionally lighting a bushfire and one count of possessing child pornography.

The arson and bushfires charges carry a maximum penalty of 40 years' jail.

When police confronted him in a public place, the alleged arsonist "went without a fight", they said.

He was transferred to Melbourne for his own safety due to public outrage in the Gippsland region over the deadly bushfires.

He did not appear at today's hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

Sokaluk was remanded in custody to appear at a committal mention on May 25.

Sokaluk logged on to another social networking website, myYearbook, last Wednesday, four days after the hellfire on Saturday, February 7.

He was arrested two days later on Friday.

He describes his mood as "dirty" because "no one love (sic) him".

His quote is "looken for a young wife to shear my wealf with her".

He received Valentine's Day greetings from half a dozen women on the site.

An order remains in place preventing media from publishing Sokaluk's street address or his image.

Over 189 people were killed and 1800 homes destroyed after some 400 blazes tore across Victoria - making it the country's worst ever wildfire disaster.

[vztrt]

Just one thing about the article they don't mention that he is only being charged with 11 deaths.

Not like that makes it any better, BTW.

[rodderz]

A UK website still shows his face, not sure if Aust law covers that too

Here is a very indepth account of the events of the 7th of Feb according to the "war centre" CFA headquarters in the city. It covers from first light till midnight and how they didnt even know of any deaths till hours afterwards, such was the speed and destruction of the fire-

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...4-2702,00.html

[Trek]

Originally Posted by MO

Its not a p.....g contest so how much you give doesn't matter the fact you gave is all that matters.
Good on ya.

I had no intention to try to compete with what everyone else had donated, but thanks anyway.

That Fire Truck pic sends a shock to the system, hats off to those CFA members brave enough to get that close to the fire(s). Puts the matter into a stronger perspective.

[Macca23]

Looks like I will be heading down for 5 days to help with my NSW rfs brigade. Approx 100 of us will be going down to help over then next 2 weeks( we already have some members down there on shift) Hoping to do my bit to help!

[Cobra]

Just heard that Pink donated $250,000 to the Red Cross. Wow!

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Cobra

Just heard that Pink donated $250,000 to the Red Cross. Wow!

Very generous indeed, also probably making up for running her mouth last time she was here...LOL

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Very generous indeed, also probably making up for running her mouth last time she was here...LOL

bit off topic but what did she say? every time i've seen interviews with her she has nothing but praise for this country and its people.

very nice of her anyway.

let's hope it all gets to where it's needed without any red tape.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by crackersINC

bit off topic but what did she say? every time i've seen interviews with her she has nothing but praise for this country and its people.

very nice of her anyway.

let's hope it all gets to where it's needed without any red tape.

Quote from Wikipedia:

"In conjunction with PETA, she criticized the Australian wool industry over its use of mulesing only after selling out her Australian tour dates. In January 2007, she stated that she had been misled by PETA about mulesing and that she had not done enough research before lending her name to the campaign."

[dave351cid]

Originally Posted by Macca23

Looks like I will be heading down for 5 days to help with my NSW rfs brigade. Approx 100 of us will be going down to help over then next 2 weeks( we already have some members down there on shift) Hoping to do my bit to help!

take care.

hope that you get rained on.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by Macca23

Looks like I will be heading down for 5 days to help with my NSW rfs brigade. Approx 100 of us will be going down to help over then next 2 weeks( we already have some members down there on shift) Hoping to do my bit to help!

you lucky bugga we didnt even make next weeks crews

[Professor Farnsworth]

i heard one of the ACT firefighters was killed by a falling tree... in addition to all the other tragedies, how bad is that..

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by crackersINC

i heard one of the ACT firefighters was killed by a falling tree... in addition to all the other tragedies, how bad is that..

That's terrible if it's true.

[rag top]

Unfortunately, it's true: ACT firefighter killed near Marysville
http://www.smh.com.au/national/act-f...0217-8ac4.html

[Fantome]

I've just returned from a 72 hour deployment with the RFS. The way we were welcomed by the Victorian people was amazing with drivers pulling up at intersections and thanking us for going down, people tooting their horns at us. When we went through Healesville last night on our way to the fireground, the residents were out in the street cheering and waving. It makes me very proud to be an aussie when after all that these folks have experienced they can produce a welcome like that.

[RIPGMH]

Has anyone else seen this inbred preacher in the US Fred Phelps and what his said about the bush fires, I'd like 4 days alone with him.

[Elks]

Thanks RIPGMH. I have never heard of this guy but I just Google'd him. What a lunatic.

I've never read such ill informed rubbish in my life and to think any of applies to the people affected by these bushfires makes my blood boil. He clearly knows nothing of the people that he is talking about.

I wish you luck with 4 days and may I go seconds.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by Fantome

I've just returned from a 72 hour deployment with the RFS. The way we were welcomed by the Victorian people was amazing with drivers pulling up at intersections and thanking us for going down, people tooting their horns at us. When we went through Healesville last night on our way to the fireground, the residents were out in the street cheering and waving. It makes me very proud to be an aussie when after all that these folks have experienced they can produce a welcome like that.

pretty good hay, thats what it was like when I went for the grampians fires a few years ago, a big change from some of the crap we get here

[Fev]

Originally Posted by myts

Thanks RIPGMH. I have never heard of this guy but I just Google'd him. What a lunatic.

I've never read such ill informed rubbish in my life and to think any of applies to the people affected by these bushfires makes my blood boil. He clearly knows nothing of the people that he is talking about.

I wish you luck with 4 days and may I go seconds.

i saw this on the news yesterday... my blood was boiling and my knuckles were white at his statements.. give me an hour and a 2 by 4 and a few nails...

[ieatsports_cars]

today i heard on the triple j news that there are insurance scamers in victora, going into bank accounts what low lifes

[Macca23]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

you lucky bugga we didnt even make next weeks crews

We had 25ppl due back today, 25 left yesterday, 25 saturday and 50 on sunday at this stage. But this can change LOL. Im on the sunday run at this stage.

[Jason[98.EL]]

just heard on the radio that north central, gipsland areas are under allert due to storms to go through the area tonight

for those in the area keep your heads up and get out if a fire starts in your area if you dont have a fire plan in place

be safe guys and gals

Jason

[Macca23]

Finally back home from te fires, heres a few quick snaps I managed to grab!

Up in the hills behind marysvile.



Buxton Roadhouse



Staging Area at Alexandria

[ch33z1l]

Friday night, the little township of Leeton managed to raise $300 short of $10,000 where we had 7 local bands playing at the local club. It was a great turnout and I am glad to say I was there showing my support.

Hopefully we make some families just a little better off.