Update on Bushfires by DG Ted Pt 1

Posted by Edward Gaffney 
on Feb 17, 2009
 
 
Hello to all Members and friends  of Rotary District 9780, and beyond. It may give some connection for you to know the extent, in part, of these fires.  This is not meant to frighten or deter anyone from assisting in whatever fashion they can, it is information that perhaps we don't hear about, and may cause us to re double our efforts .
 

Weerite:  [Camperdown]  20 Farms have been impacted, mostly stock ground, but fortunately no loss of life or major property, but when this many properties are affected the immediate requirement will be cleaning up, fencing and stock fodder, other needs may come to hand in the following  weeks. Art this time these actions have commenced, on all concerns, although it appears that 'peat' may still be burning, and this is of concern.

Coleraine:  6 Farms were impacted here,  1 House, 4 Tractors, and 3 Hay sheds and  one severe burn victim with 50% of his body suffering burn trauma,  770 Hectares burnt mainly stock ground.  Again the requirement for fencing and fodder, at this time these actions have commenced.   Support for the badly injured gentleman when he comes home may also become an issue .

Horsham:  5,694 hectares suffered a severe burn, with 8 homes lost.  Again fencing and fodder will be a premium, fortunately no fatalities here..Clubs at work with local shire to assist in clean up and re- fencing, fodder again will be a need, in short order. With support for these displaced families a priority.

Here in 9780 have, not suffered the horrendous conditions suffered in Kinglake, Churchill and Maiden Gully [Bendigo]  to name only a few of the areas devastated,  but help in many forms has commenced via the outstanding contributions of the Clubs, so in brief at this time, our initial response,  we will be in need of Star pickets, Wire and Ring Lock, support people to assist,  and Fodder.  It will be this districts approach to work with the Victorian Farmers Federation, as we did in the fires in the Grampians,  while still supporting those other vital areas that most certainly will arise.

The full extent of this disaster can be gauged by some more sobering figures. From all areas affected, showing the losses 2, Service Stations, 1 Hotel,  2 Police Stations,  1 Water Treatment Plant, 1 SES Depot,  1 Power Sub Station, 2 Communication Towers, 2 Primary Schools, 1 Church, 1 Timber Mill, 1 Football Club, Sports Centre, 3 Kindergartens, 47+ Shops,  2 Bridges, 22/40 Vehicles, 139 Sheds and a Golf course,  not to mention 1831 Homes, equipment, stock  and feed losses.

The action of all five Victorian Governors is to maintain our present actions,  is based on several major areas, of information.

  1. The two Districts  9790 and 9820  of concern,  still have uncontrolled fire within their areas, and as such there can be no knowledge of what or even when assistance will be required.
  2. Several of the major fire sites are still forbidden to us, as they are considered Crime scenes.
  3. The waste of time effort and money is a real problem should we get carried away, and the worry of duplication of effort is always a problem in circumstances such as these, and needs to be avoided. The District Governors will continue to involve one another with requests of assistance at this time.
  4. Finally we have as yet no confirmed knowledge of what is required. As part of this concerted Victoria wide effort, never before has so much money and resources been put at the disposal of the authorities to support those disenfranchised by the fire,  we then face what property was covered by Insurance, and what was not, State and Federal governments replacement of infrastructure and housing, grants, and support to the families affected, all of this will need accurate information, so that we may act in the most prudent fashion. The overall estimate of losses at this time in 2 Billion Dollars,   the home  re building program is to be funded from moneys raised by 30 Million dollars, and so there will be a need for many months possibly years of support from organizations such as Rotary.

It is due to a combination of all these factors, that the 5 Rotary Governors in Victoria have agreed to support the fire recovery areas as we have been up to this point, within our own districts and register with Chief Commissioner  Nixon of the Victoria Police, who is to head up the State fire and disaster response committee,  as a resource group, and thus our Victoria wide activities will be centralized, under this body when the time for rebuilding homes and lives begins in earnest.
As has been our plan from day one, we see this as getting aid to those we can as an immediate reaction while enabling our efforts as the bigger picture takes shape.

Ted Gaffney  DG
15 Feb 2009.