Repeating Theme

Obviously my blog has been devoted to the poor Koalas in Adelaide over the last week. Yesterday I mentioned some photos that I was unable to post ... well I have managed to get them on here. Again I don't know who the photographers. Before I show you the Koalas enjoying a cooling off I want to show you some images that were sent around our work today. These photos came from one of our members in Melbourne who has lost his house. He wrote a first had account as well. I will copy some of his email (in italics) to explain the photos below. He and his family are all safe. They got out 45 minutes before their house was destroyed. Surprisingly though one of the Bantam Hens was still running around the yard when they returned today as well as the fire pump down by the dam.

At first the fire was heading away from them. Even when they left they were quietly confident that the fire would bypass them after the change in direction. It took the fire 4 minutes to cover 15kms!

They left a 4WD at the property as it wasn't running properly, and it was completely burnt out. The alloy wheels have melted and there are rivulets of allow on the ground. All of the tyres were not only burnt, but had vaporised leaving nothing but the steel belting on the ground. My trailer, which was parked close to the 4X4 is almost untouched. I'll need to replace one tyre and one set of lights, but even the paint didn't blister.

Our water tank didn't just melt, it imploded on the spot. The 2 metre high tank is now under 2 centimetres high but it's the pretty much the same diameter as it was when it was complete. The fire hit so hard and so fast that it simply boiled 2500 litres of water to nothing in seconds and the tank didn't simply burn on one side as you might expect, it fell in on itself in an instant.

We had a timber deck around two sides of the house. You can still see where the nails were because the decking boards were vaporised in seconds and the nails all fell to the ground in perfect lines. There's barely even any ash around them at all.

I could tell you stories of luck and misery. Of people that barely survived and of some that didn't. Of almost miraculous events where the fire went around houses and where fires went right through homes but left paddocks no more than 1 metre away untouched. Of one home whose timber retaining wall, less than 2 metres form the house, was destroyed entirely, but the house was untouched. There are areas here that look like Armageddon has past through, and others where Lyrebirds are walking amidst the burnt out trees, unharmed thankfully. We've lost some friends and neighbours and our world will never be the same.

His email goes on to thank the many organisations that have been helping. So far over 1800 homes have been destroyed. The Army has pitched tents for the survivors but can only take in so many. Many others have to rely on the generosity of families and strangers.

If you wish to donate money to help rebuild people's lives please click here.

Now the Koala photos

I want to cry

Most of you who know me will know that I am an animal lover. As a child all I wanted was to own an animal sanctuary where sick and injured animals could be safe. It sickens me to not only think of the animals (and people of course) in the Victorian Fires but the desperation of the Koalas in Adelaide (South Australia). Some of you may look at the photos below and think "how cute," but please stop to consider what it must be like for a wild animal to go against all its instincts and approach humans for water and to take water from them.

I have also received emails of Koalas plonking themselves in front of sprinklers to cool down. One had his face right on the sprinkler. Unfortunately I can't show those photos because they wouldn't save.

The below is Sam the Koala that the volunteers found in the fires.

Almost looks like he is savouring it as if to remember the tasteThis little guy is obviously enjoying the cooling off but would love as much in his mouth as possible.

Koalas are not known for drenching themselves either but in this heat, who cares about the wet hair look.

Heat exhaustion
This can't be good for them

Feels safe and secure near a tree but still wants his bum in the water.

Koalas in the Fire

The below posts on Koalas are from the State of South Australia. As many of you already know Victoria is experiencing some devastating fires. To see one of the survivors from Victorias fires click on this link:
Koala

Desperate Koalas

I woke up this morning to find an email from my Uncle. I am not sure if this was sent from one of his friends or a friend of a friend. For those of you who don't really know about Koalas they get the majority of their moisture from the leaves in the trees. They are also very skittish animals when in the wild and don't like being approached or handled by humans. In fact they only leave a tree really to get to another tree. This is why the I was not sure if the first lot of photos I posted on here were for real or not. However with these new photos from my Uncle I am beginning to believe that they are. It seems that the heat in South Australia has made the trees greedy and they are not giving up their water. Hence the Koalas have to go in search.

Below is the body of the email I received and I have also cropped the photos to show the main part. Koalas are nearing extinction as it is. The last thing we need is for them to die off from dehydration. I know I am praying for rain.

Hi, temp in Adelaide yesterday (5th) was 39:
O/night down to 19 and today (6th) up to
43.7 with a minimum expected of 32.
Sunday is supposed to come down to 25.
These poor little fellows are obviously
stressed when they come out on to a road
looking for water and it looks as though this
one was actually approaching someone for
water - so trusting.
Tomorrow is expected to be 41+ and a very
serious fire day as strong winds are also expected
These photos were taken last night on the Old
Freeway up to Crafers in the Adelaide hills.

On top of this we have floods in northern Queensland and devastating bushfires in Northern Victoria. I haven't heard the death count for today but it was around 131 last night. The town of Marysville has been wiped out except for 11 houses. The people can not go back in as the whole place is considered a crime scene. I thank God I live in WA. We may get our fair share of weird weather but nothing like the eastern states.

Soul Journal Valentine Party

For those who like to creat in general check out the information on the Soul Journal Blog. Looks like lots of fun.