A day of extremes. The morning found everyone doing vocational visits with Chris & Ryan visiting the Murrindindi Council offices and members of the Economic Development, Tourism and Event team. We were privileged to sit in on their weekly Monday meetings in which they compare calendars and brief each other on their schedules for the week. Two are new to their positions and with the advent of the February fires, their workloads have increased tenfold plus the employees and council have been personally impacted by the fire either through lost of loved ones or friends plus the loss of their own homes. It’s been a few weeks since the major fires and emotions are running high regarding responding to individual needs and the needs of the cities and rural areas. Economic Development director, Bob Elkington, and his colleagues were kind enough to allow us to listen in to their conversation.
After lunch, Chris & Ryan traveled with Cat and Grant to a meeting south of the city of Alexandra which would take them through one of the hardest hit communities of the fire, Marysville. It’s interesting to note that they had just viewed a promotional video in the economic development office showing Marysville in its finest hour as a thriving tourism community where people lived, kids went to school, and people visited it regularly because of its quaintness and its appeal.
With thirty-four deaths, and the city literally in ashes, the city was beginning to say goodbye to its loved ones as the remains had finally been released. Today, Pam Chaffe, wife of Chris’ host, Rob Chaffe attended the funeral of a couple, Kirstie and Isak Nilsson, a couple who had sent their children with their grandparents while they tried to save their home. They perished in the fire and their three children, ages fourteen to nine survived them. The service was held at the TarraWarra Museum of Art since the church had burned. This service will be followed by many other funeral services and memorial services in the following weeks. The road to recovery in human terms will take years. The pictures of Kirstie and Isak on the funeral bulletin definitely put a face on this fire and their images will remain for a long time to come.
Jacquie, Kim and Macy visited schools, hospitals and grocery stores and then spent their afternoon water skiing on a local lake. The pictures tell the story.
On Tuesday, white water rafting awaits the team after they gather with local Rotarians for breakfast at 7:30AM to greet cyclers who are part of The Great Australian Bike Ride, a fund raiser to promote Rotary health.
From site and heart of the fires of Victoria, Australia……G’Day.
