Bushfires near Tolmie

[sbranden]

Just noticed this news article (http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/climate-change-stoking-bushfires/2006/12/15/1166162320231.html) which talks a little about climate change and fires.

shaun

[Gumby]

Fuel reduction, as I said, is important, but when are you going to do it? There is a fine line (and getting smaller) between having the fuel too wet to burn and too dry to burn safely. Who is going to do it? The volunteers are already over worked and really don't need to be mopping up countless hundreds of hectares all night. Who is going to pay for it?


Fuel reduction wouldn't be needed to the same extent as it is now if they let the 4WD's and cattle back in to the National Parks. They all did their bit to keep the tracks clear. But, no, the Green gods insist that we are not to enjoy the wilderness close up. Just from a distance. Perish the thought of breaking a twig.

You can't even remove debris from the roadside without being sent to Guantanamo Bay for 5 years.:rolleyes:

[sbranden]

Fuel reduction wouldn't be needed to the same extent as it is now if they let the 4WD's and cattle back in to the National Parks. They all did their bit to keep the tracks clear. But, no, the Green gods insist that we are not to enjoy the wilderness close up. Just from a distance. Perish the thought of breaking a twig.

You can't even remove debris from the roadside without being sent to Guantanamo Bay for 5 years.:rolleyes:


Gumby, the issue we have is a result of stuffing around with he environment. Cattle do not belong in national parks, and people can visit delicate areas on foot. We have to take care of what is left or risk further damaging the environment/ climate. We have caused huge damage to the planet and the creatures/ plants that we proclaim mastership over deserve our help.

shaun

[outback]

I claim mastership over no creature.

It seems only bureaucrat's are naive enough for that.

[Doughboy]

Fire has an unpredictability that only my wife can match. I dont know which one is more destructive though.

Pete

[Sturdee]

We have caused huge damage to the planet and the creatures/ plants that we proclaim mastership over deserve our help.

shaun

All creatures have rights, especially rats according to one local council when a ratepayer complained about a rats problem where they where coming out of a councils drain and they refused to bait the drain.:mad:

IMO the rights of people surpasses all right of other creatures and plants. In fact certain animals should be hunted down and destroyed, eg. sharks, crocodiles, possums and cats.


Peter.

[Doughboy]

Geez Peter

I reckon you are being a bit harsh. Crocodiles are good for thinning out pesky tourists!

Pete

[Clinton1]

Fuel reduction, as I said, is important, but when are you going to do it? There is a fine line (and getting smaller) between having the fuel too wet to burn and too dry to burn safely. Who is going to do it? The volunteers are already over worked and really don't need to be mopping up countless hundreds of hectares all night. Who is going to pay for it?



There is a lot of 'correct things" in the above quote... but the incorrect things is with respect to the volunteers, and 'pay for it'.... not having a go at Shaun... but at the system and its masters, instead.

I think it is ridiculous that we are relying on a large amount of volunteers to control these 'wildfires'.... thank God for the volunteers, and they are all champions in my view, but.... I think its time to put some of these people in full time employment, doing both fuel reduction and fire season fighting.
I'm not proposing that the volunteers are 'done away with' - frankly I think they should get a medal and a ticker tape parade, but they should be strengthened with more resources.

A large and committed labour force has been removed from forests with the removal of logging - bringing in a lot of paid, full time (or better yet - job share), positions to the CFA would go some way to redressing this.


As to "pay for it" - if the landowners (Fed and State Govt entities) don't get serious and sort their management out, then frankly they should be taken to court and made to be personally responsible.
I've heard a lot of excuses as to why fuel reduction burns were not done in Vic over the last 5 years... most are to do with lack of $ and lack of staff. I also think that the "foxes are running the chicken coop" and the lack of burns are due to moronic politics.

Perhaps its time that they stump up the $ to correctly manage the land, and if they can't then it will probably take political action to fix the problem. Trouble is.... if it doesn't involve a tax cut, most people don't give a stuff about it. As far as I'm concerned irresponsible fire management is worse for the environment than a 75 - 100 year forestry rotation.

As usual, most of the crud is caused by idiot humans allowing the pendulum to swing too wildly.

[Iain]

Cattle do not belong in national parks, and people can visit delicate areas on foot.

In Victoria's Alpine National Park we had cattle prior to it being declared a National Park, the suddenly it was PI (politically incorrect) and the poor buggers running these animals on Government leaseholds had to find a new home for several thousand head of cattle.
So it was instant loss of income for the farmers, loss of income for the government and total chaos for everyone else.
Bloody greenie crap, it really gets up my nose watching the Kombi driving cretins protesting for rights for blowflies or whatever.

[sbranden]

In Victoria's Alpine National Park we had cattle prior to it being declared a National Park, the suddenly it was PI (politically incorrect) and the poor buggers running these animals on Government leaseholds had to find a new home for several thousand head of cattle.
So it was instant loss of income for the farmers, loss of income for the government and total chaos for everyone else.
Bloody greenie crap, it really gets up my nose watching the Kombi driving cretins protesting for rights for blowflies or whatever.


I guess you would prefer it all either running cattle for your burgers or concreted to stop those pesky critters and fires. I personally want my kids to know what a bird is, not just see them in pictures. Climate change is a direct result of people acting for short term goals and profit over long term sustainability. As a Gippsland resident you are seeing the result of that first hand, but still can't associate the two.

shaun

[Gumby]

. I personally want my kids to know what a bird is,

That is typical Green hyper-rubbish and over the top scare mongering.

Sorry Shaun, but it's you and the Green bunch which just don't get it !

Now I'm outa here because I think we've all made our points and it's getting off the topic and a bit heated.

[Daddles]

Actually Gumby, it's you that isn't getting it - my kids don't know the wealth of birds I knew as a kid (it's all sparrows and minors now) and my youngest will never see the butterfly invasions that were an annual part of my childhood (haven't had one here in ten years - literally, the last one was the year I moved to this area).

This is a fragile land we live in and stuffing it around with imported animals and imported management ideas hasn't helped in the slightest. I'm guessing you're one of those who complains about people who have undergrowth right up to their houses and then wonder why it gets burnt in a bush fire (if you aren't, you should be). The use of the land, running hard footed beasts or leaving it to run without clearing, are all part of the problem. BOTH sides are at fault here and if we're ever going to get it right, all sides have to accept that the other's ideas have merit and that many of our past practices, and probably quite of few recent 'fixes', aren't good for this land and need modifying.

Richard

[Gumby]

I'm guessing you're one of those who complains about people who have undergrowth right up to their houses and then wonder why it gets burnt in a bush fire (if you aren't, you should be).

Guess again. :rolleyes:

[Iain]

I spent a number of years in the high country with the conservation department as it was then and never saw a decline in bird or wildlife numbers, the cattle and the wildlife seemed to cohabitate without conflict, as did native flora.
Unfortunately the department seemed to be overcome by wildlife wankers.

[sbranden]

I spent a number of years in the high country with the conservation department as it was then and never saw a decline in bird or wildlife numbers, the cattle and the wildlife seemed to cohabitate without conflict, as did native flora.
Unfortunately the department seemed to be overcome by wildlife wankers.


Well I guess we need to agree to disagree. You obviously can't believe that the Conservation Department could have an interest in conserving wildlife and I can't understand why a native of Gippsland would not correlate fire behavior with environmental damage.

All the best to you and yours

shaun (proud to be a wildlife wanker)

[Grunt]

I spent a number of years in the high country with the conservation department as it was then and never saw a decline in bird or wildlife numbers, the cattle and the wildlife seemed to cohabitate without conflict, as did native flora.


What crap. Ever since white man has come to Australia, native wildlife has become extinct. Nearly a 3rd of the species that were here when white man came have become extinct or are extremely threatened.

[Grunt]

I'm a wildlife wanker too, and loving it.

Humans are doomed if we continue to think that we are above nature. It's a pity that we'll drag the rest of the worlds species with us.

[Groggy]

Lets not get personal in this thread please.

[woodbe]

Iain, if you have something to say, perhaps you might get a better hearing if you were less derogatory to anyone who might have an opinion you dislike.

Wildlife wankers and climate change wankers, "greenies" have copped a lot of flak for many years, but now some of their predictions are coming horribly true right in front of our noses.

We can argue the small points, but what is becoming increasingly obvious is that they have been pretty right about the big picture, and unless something is done for the big picture, and soon, our kids' kids are going to be living in a very different world.

Many of us are still in denial, are we going to wait until it's too late?

woodbe.

[Grunt]

Many of us are still in denial, are we going to wait until it's too late?


Yes. No doubt about it.

[Clinton1]

I think we are seeing the pendulum swing here....
so much bitter politics has been played that commonsense has left.
The bitter replies above illustrate the divide.

In the meantime, catastrophic fires belt through 500, 000 hectares, cleaning up everything in its path.
Not too many birds and butterflies and other animals will survive, and its 500, 000 hectars that will be in a sorry state for quite a few years.

Regardless of the politics, it doesn't excuse the shocking levels of fuel load that have been allowed to accumulate.

[woodbe]

Clinton, it's not about politics, it's about the planet...

[scooter]

Do me a favour, take the politics, environmental & otherwise, to Nothing To Do With Woodwork, or Open Slather if you want no holds barred.

This thread was a good source to keep up with the impact of the bushfires on friends of many of us on these forums, I'd ask that it return to same, start another thread elsewhere if you want to discuss other issues.


Cheers..................Sean

[sbranden]

Do me a favour, take the politics, environmental & otherwise, to Nothing To Do With Woodwork, or Open Slather if you want no holds barred.

This thread was a good source to keep up with the impact of the bushfires on friends of many of us on these forums, I'd ask that it return to same, start another thread elsewhere if you want to discuss other issues.


Cheers..................Sean


ummm, http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/misc/navbits_start.gif (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=428160#) Woodwork Forums (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/index.php) > NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/forumdisplay.php?f=73) > NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/forumdisplay.php?f=43) > Bushfires near Tolmie (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?p=428160#post428160)

I guess you are right about this not being about the impact of fire on friends, but it is certainly about why the fires are impacting on people so badly.

shaun

[scooter]

Shaun, take the hint.


Regards.............Sean, moderator

[echnidna]

so start a new thread

[RETIRED]

We are letting this one run its course. Be warned that if it gets personal, infractions will be handed out.

[craigb]

Just so long as infarctions aren't handed out. :eek: :eek:

[Clinton1]

woodbe, it is about politics.
Without politics being involved, nothing gets done.... global warming isn't buying enough votes at the moment - so nothing gets done at a political level.
Cattle were removed from Nat Parks because is was politically expedient.
Logging is closed down - politically expedient.
CFA is the only real level of bushfire protection - funding of the CFA is done by politicians.



Anyway, think I'll respect Sean's wishes, although I'll be happy to participate in any other thread on the subject. Seeya elsewhere ;)

[johnc]

Settle down children, cattle in the high country, or not as the case may be have no bearing on this fire. If we want to get serious lets look at imported plants, and animals, especially cats, birds such as the Indian Miner and the fox. It would be great to see a dedicated force let loose to destroy blackberries, thistles and everything else you come across in the bush. We can't return our native forests to what they were before settlement but we can manage them better.

Our enviroment is constantly changing with or without human intervention, its just that some of the human part of it is so destructive. It's time we took a bigger look than just bitching about who is or is not a greenie and just which side boasts the larger amount of wankers on their team.

We could start to give some thought about the energy effeciency of our homes, the amount of power consumed by appliances on standby. Our insatiable need for consumer goods, and most of us toy (tool) collectors are part of that. Ever larger homes it goes on and on, but we do need to think about the next couple of decades. Recycling of household water, less thirsty motor vehicles there is a lot that can be acheived if we all just gave it a bit of thought, without some of the emotion and bile that have appeared on this thread which does no one here much credit. The governments claim that we can't sacrifice our cheap power is just Howard speak for sod off we can't be bothered thinking about it. If anyone has noticed industry is starting to think about the enviroment and is ready to engage with the government to move towards some common approach, generally more efficient production involves initial investment then cheaper costs. Our tax system favours the speculators with tax discounts on capital gains from their plays. At the same time investoring in productive capacity get fully tax and a pathetic write down rate on capital investment. It is the later that provides employment for us all.

If you want to see enviromental improvement it will require a different view to taxation, Governmental leadership, and someone with the ability to absorb the populations views and needs and steer them in a positive direction. We don't have that leadership at the moment.

Perhaps the next posts can take us back to the fires which last Thursday saw Sale have nightfall at 4.00.p.m. in the afternoon, followed by black rain and dawn around 8.00.p.m. which really confused the birds. The town has not seen such a line ups at the car wash in years.


John.

[journeyman Mick]

Contentious isue, isn't it? :D
Okay, just to clarify things somewhat:
I'm commited to sustainable paractices and biodiversity, hell my family was into all that stuff 35 years ago, well before it was trendy. Bought a large parcel of played out farmland and gave it back to the wildlife. We shot the local dogs that were hunting down the sweet faced wallabies and pademelons (didn't that make us popular :D ) and let the rainforest take over the paddocks. Because this is a high rainfall area that was origianlly covered by rainforest species we kept fire out and eventually all the grass was shaded out and the fire risk today is negligible. Warning! Don't try this in a low rainfall area (ie most of the rest of Australia;) )

The point I, and others have been trying to make is that it's no point putting aside an area for conservation and then letting a huge hot fire run through it because a high fuel load has been allowed to build up. A fire like this will kill pretty much everything thereby doing more damage than all the cattle grazing, motorbikes and 4wds combined.

This approach is often taken by what some people would term as "wildlife wankers" :eek: . Now I try to avoid labels and putting all people of a certain "category" in the same basket, so to speak. Yes, some "greenies" are total idiots and some from the other end of the spectrum are just as one eyed. To illustrate a point though consider the following:

Our local group of brigades organised a large combined exercise which would involve burning the main roads reserve along quite a few kms of highway. Main roads agreed to fund the cost of constructing breaks (2 blade widths of a 'dozer) along their reserve. The rationale was that by burning the road reserve we would prevent fire spreading from the road side to surrounding farms and reserve areas. This is a common occurence with fires being either deliberately or accidently lit along the highway every fire season.

Everything was going well until an environmental officer from Main roads got involved. :rolleyes: There is a large environmental reserve adjoining the road reserve at one point. The environmental officer ordered the road crew not to construct the fire break next to the environmental reserve. The fire warden tried to explain that the break was being made on the road reserve side of the fence and for the express purpose of keeping fire OUT of the environmental reserve.
Environmental officer said she didn't want any fire near the reserve.
Warden explained again that without the break any fires lit next to the road would run through the reserve.
Environmental officer said she didn't want any fire near the reserve.
Warden explained that without the break the fire we would be lighting would burn the reserve.
Environmental officer said she didn't want any fire near the reserve.
Warden got sick of arguing the point and said that as covered by relevant legislation which over rode that which the environmental officer was working under he would order the construction of a fire break and send the bill to main roads.

We eventually burnt the highway reserve, a nice slow, low intensity fire and for the last two and a half years we haven't had any fires succesfully lit along that stretch of highway.

To those people who say that we shouldn't conduct fuel reduction burns I ask:

"Do you advocate that any fires that are started by lightning strikes should be allowed to burn unchecked until they self extinguish?"

See, that's the (il)logical conclusion of the hands off approach. Before man came to Australia lightening strikes would have started fires which would have burnt unchecked until rain, lack of fuel or possibly large rivers stopped them. This would have reduced the fuel load.

When the Aboriginal came with the fire stick they changed the make up of the environment.

When European settlement came it changed the environment even more.

We can't turn back the clock and make it the paradise it once was. Not unless we embark on a huge reforestation scheme, knock down all the buildings and dams and try to find new offshore homes for about 20 million people.:rolleyes: We can try to find the best way to manage what we have, to ensure minimal environmental impact, to avoid habitat loss etc etc etc. In other words to manage what we have and try to accomodate the needs of all the humans, animals and plants that live here. (well most of them, we could probably do without most of the politicians:D ) In other words we need to manage the environment. And fire, wisely used, is an excellent management tool.

The day they take that tool away from volunteer fire fighters will be the day I hang up my yellow overalls.

So to all those who say that we shouldn't conduct fuel reduction burns I say, put your money where your mouth is (and your life on the line) and join a rural fire brigade to combat the monster fires we will have when fuel reduction is stopped.

Mick

[outback]

Gumby, the issue we have is a result of stuffing around with he environment. Cattle do not belong in national parks, and people can visit delicate areas on foot. We have to take care of what is left or risk further damaging the environment/ climate. We have caused huge damage to the planet and the creatures/ plants that we proclaim mastership over deserve our help.

shaun


I guess you would prefer it all either running cattle for your burgers or concreted to stop those pesky critters and fires. I personally want my kids to know what a bird is, not just see them in pictures. Climate change is a direct result of people acting for short term goals and profit over long term sustainability. As a Gippsland resident you are seeing the result of that first hand, but still can't associate the two.

shaun


Well I guess we need to agree to disagree. You obviously can't believe that the Conservation Department could have an interest in conserving wildlife and I can't understand why a native of Gippsland would not correlate fire behavior with environmental damage.

All the best to you and yours

shaun (proud to be a wildlife wanker)


A lot of rhetoric, but little substance in these quotes.

I fail to see how we can categorically state that we have completely ruined the environment with 200 years of habitation. Furthermore the ones blamed for the ruination are those with a vested interest in seeing its sustainability. These people are being blamed by feelgooders with no ideas of their own or worse, those with another agenda.

[sbranden]

So to all those who say that we shouldn't conduct fuel reduction burns I say, put your money where your mouth is (and your life on the line) and join a rural fire brigade to combat the monster fires we will have when fuel reduction is stopped.

Mick

Mick, good post. I am just trying to work out who said we shouldn't have fuel reduction burns.

shaun

[woodbe]

I fail to see how we can categorically state that we have completely ruined the environment with 200 years of habitation.

Outback, happy to discuss this, as I'm sure others are, but not in this thread. The Mods have said please leave this thread for the Tolmie fires and friends there...

woodbe.

[journeyman Mick]

Mick, good post. I am just trying to work out who said we shouldn't have fuel reduction burns.

shaun

Shaun,
there's a very vocal green faction that says so, plus lots of rural residential dwellers who don't like their washing getting smoky.:rolleyes: As recounted above there's at least one government employed environmental officer up here who sees all fire as bad and is blinded to commonsense by this.

So if we've established that fuel reduction is neccesary then we need to look at the different methods. So cattle have been closed out of the alpine areas - this may or may not be a good thing for that environment. I don't know the area or the needs of alpine environments. Up here though, in rainforest regeneration areas, cattle grazing can be a good management tool for fuel reduction. Occasional introduction of cattle at appropriate times will reduce the fuel load (grasses) and prevent/minimize fire damage to the fire sensitive rainforest species. In many cases they will have less impact than fire as a fuel reduction tool.

So there"s not a one size fits all solution for environmental management. Unfortunately lots of people get really one eyed about it all. However, there's one barrow I'll continue to push, and that is that unless the managers of our environment learn from these fires and implement a strategy of fuel reduction rather than fire supression we will continue to have fires and they will get more intense and more wide spread even without the added drying effects of climate change.

Mick

[Doughboy]

I hope the brigades involved in the Tolmie area fires are listening to the local contingent as the amount of times I have attended a fire and had no local input only to find trucks sitting idley by because local land knowledge has not been utilized would make you cringe.

I know we need a distinct chain of command but we also need to be realistic about these things, no one knows an area like the locals do.

I remain thoughtful of our friends in the area.

Pete

[journeyman Mick]

......................If you want to see enviromental improvement it will require a different view to taxation, Governmental leadership, and someone with the ability to absorb the populations views and needs and steer them in a positive direction. We don't have that leadership at the moment...........


Yep, vote 1 J'Mick for benevolent dictator. :cool: :D

(Just trying to lighten the mood somewhat.)

Mick

[Cliff Rogers]

Has anybody heard from Rob?

I heard on the radio yesterday arvo that there were 6 firefighters injured near Mansfield.

Anybody know what is going on?

[ozwinner]

I rang Rob Saturday night and he and Meg are ok, smoked but not stirred.

Al :p

[Auld Bassoon]

Thanks Al, glad to hear that.

[outback]

Keep the god news coming Al. I'd hate to hear bad news about all those lovely handtools. :o

[Wood Borer]

Yes we are OK, the danger has been greatly reduced so we were able to go to my old company's Christmas turn in Melbourne (Restaurant at Albert Park Lake).

Our son and his fiancee looked after the place. We got home at 2:30 AM;)

Today the smoke was virtually gone which was wonderful.

Today we discovered the bower of a satin bower bird decorated with a squillion blue objects, pen tops, pegs, bottle tops ...... no record clamps or tools yet but if they go missing I will know where to find them. The bower seems to be working because there are four female bower birds flying around.

The bower is in our garden about 10m from the house. I'll try and remember to take a photo and post it if anyone is interested.

The tools and the pythons are fine too.

[Groggy]

Rob that's great news, now enjoy your Christmas :)

[Cliff Rogers]

...The bower is in our garden about 10m from the house. I'll try and remember to take a photo and post it if anyone is interested.

The tools and the pythons are fine too.

Good to hear you are all fine, I'm interested in a pic of the bower.

[RufflyRustic]

Hi Rob,

Glad things are better in your area.

I, too, would love to see a photo of the Bower Bird's nest. Just another lovely reason why you moved there I hope :)

cheers
Wendy

[Wood Borer]

Here's the Bower Bird's special little place and method of picking up chicks:cool:

Perhaps some of the males on this forum who are wanting female company could give this method a shot - probably cheaper than internet dating.

[Gumby]

Here's the Bower Bird's special little place and method of picking up chicks:cool:

Perhaps some of the males on this forum who are wanting female company could give this method a shot - probably cheaper than internet dating.

Why would he go to so much trouble.

Just put up a sign, chicks wanted, car and meals supplied.

It worked for me. :o

[Stuart]

Richard,

Please delete this and the four previous posts ( including yours) as they have nothing to do with the bushfires near Tolmie.

A little bit of consistency in your moderation of posts would be great as I feel you are leaving some posts that are irrelevant to the topic and deleting the replies it generates.

Why are the original posts about bower birds left and others deleted, maybe because the original replies were from Moderators?


Peter.1. Richard is not the only one moderating this thread :mad:

2. Posts by moderators get deleted just as anyone elses that are not appropriate, so it is unreasonable to suggest that their posts are treated differently.

3. Perhaps the deletions haven't been as all-encompassing as they could be, we are always trying to walk the thin line of over-moderating, vs sufficient moderating to keep this place on-track despite numerous attempts to hijack a thread set for a specific purpose.

4. Everyone has been warned (more than enough), so it ends here. There are plenty of other threads to spread the typical anarchy. Leave this one alone, unless of course you actually have something valid to contribute to the original topic.


Stuart
Senior Moderator

[Gumby]

Fires are reported 100m from Walhalla. Geez, I used to spend quite a bit of time there about 30 years ago.

It's a real old relic of a town with hardly any residents but in recent times it's had the old Hospital converted to a Hotel and the old pub burnt down long ago.

It's in a small valley so if it roars through there, I wish them luck. :(

[Wood Borer]

I think the fire threatening Walhalla was deliberately lit wasn't it?

The fires between us and Walhalla around Merrijig, Mirimbah and Mt Buller are posing quite a threat to people there. There are community meetings for many places including BAIRNSDALE, BENAMBRA, BRIGHT, BRUTHEN, DARGO, ENSAY, EUROBIN, GLENGARRY, GOUGHS BAY, JAMIESON, MACS COVE, MERRIJIG, METUNG, MYRTLEFORD, OMEO, RAWSON, SWIFTS CREEK and WALHALLA.

I heard Omeo might be threatened, lets hope Eastie and his family are OK.

Eastie, you kindly offered to help us prepare for fires now the boot may be on other foot, is there anything any of us can do to help you.

The smoke around Mansfield and up here in Tolmie is still hanging about. I was driving home from Melbourne around midnight last night and after approaching Mansfield, oncoming headlights appeared orange in colour.

I understand Melbourne and other areas are copping the smoke although it seemed clear in Melbourne last night.

[Lignum]

How bizzar, apparently its going to snow in some of the bushfire affected areas on Xmass day:eek:

[Stuart]

Smoke is bad today - my folks are over from NZ (they grew up in Melbourne / Ballarat regions - said they have never seen it this bad.

Heard about that potential for snow - is going on with the weather :eek:

Any more news of Walhalla? Can't imagine 100m is very far given the potential speed these things can move.

[Wood Borer]

Walhalla is still on ember alert.:(

If there is snow up here, I will post a photo. I've never experienced a white Christmas.

I think everyone would be happy with a good rain to give the burnt areas a good douse.

I agree that the climate seems to be rapidly changing for the worse.

[ozwinner]

I hear that a big blow is due in your area next Wednesday..

Al :p

[Pommie Cousin]

Hi Folks

I found your site when searching the web for news of the bushfires. I have a cousin who lives in Tolmie and haven't been able to contact her by email. Her name is Liz Owen and she is a nurse/midwife at the hospital there in Mansfield. Bit of a longshot I know but if any of you do know of her or could give me a bit more info re the fires I would be really grateful. Liz's son Rone is currently on holiday in Europe so she doesn't have him there for support. If you do know her please could you let her know that Sue and Thelma are thinking of her.

I really feel for you people out there - we never experience anything like this here in England and don't appreciate what you go through.

I hope you are all safe and pray that the fires miss you.

I would be really grateful to get some feedback.

Thanks in anticipation.

[Wood Borer]

Mate, I don't know her as we have just moved up here 5 weeks ago. If you can give me further details in a personal message such as address, surname or phone number, I would only be too happy to make contact and forward on your concerns and best wishes.

My wife Meg might know your cousin or I can ask down at the pub next time I'm down there.

There has not been any loss of property or lives in Tolmie so that should put your mind at rest. As I have said in previous posts, the media have beaten it up a bit and the main danger has passed.

Tolmie is a wonderful part of the world so your cousin has good taste, that's why my family moved to Australia about 200 years ago. My wife's people were transported out here at the same time or maybe slightly earlier (First Fleet Convicts).

Are you into woodwork over there in the UK or did you just happen across this Bulletin Board because of the fires?

Al, What on earth are you thinking of doing?:eek:

[Wood Borer]

Our local pub the Tolmie Tavern has a raffle with all proceeds going to charities such as the Children's Hospital.

I made a tray out of an old redgum post and an old mountain ash fence post.

The base is obviously made from the mountain ash with a strip of redgum running through it. Hand cut dovetails of course.

All the thicknessing was done using handplanes (of course), the only electron burners used were a bandsaw (to break down the post and to cut the curves)and a router to cut the grooves for the solid base.

Finishing was done using UBeaut white shellac, UBeaut EEE wax and UBeaut traditional wax.

This is my first major project made in Tolmie. The stand for the electron burner saw was also made here out of recycled timber using mortice and tenon joints cut by router and by mortise chisels.

If you want to buy a ticket for the hamper, send $2 per ticket to the Tolmie Tavern Mansfield Whitfield Rd, Tolmie Vic 3723 to support this wonderful little community who banded together and supported each other under the threat of the bushfires and so readily accepted and welcomed us.

Even better, come up here, visit us and we can drop up the road and have a cold one in the Tolmie Tavern. There is always a bed here for visitors.

Cousin Pommie - I asked about your cousin down at the pub tonight and they thought she must be Liz O***. If so, she is fine.

[Gumby]

Rob, can you PM me your bank account number, so I could transfer $20 to you and ask you to buy me 10 tickets ?

[Wood Borer]

I'll purchase Gumby's ticket tomorrow night - damn, I'll have to go down to the pub to do it.

One mile there and one mile back. No traffic lights, probably be lucky to see another car on the road just wombats, echidnas, roos and deer.;)

[Pommie Cousin]

Our local pub the Tolmie Tavern has a raffle with all proceeds going to charities such as the Children's Hospital.

I made a tray out of an old redgum post and an old mountain ash fence post.

The base is obviously made from the mountain ash with a strip of redgum running through it. Hand cut dovetails of course.

All the thicknessing was done using handplanes (of course), the only electron burners used were a bandsaw (to break down the post and to cut the curves)and a router to cut the grooves for the solid base.

Finishing was done using UBeaut white shellac, UBeaut EEE wax and UBeaut traditional wax.

This is my first major project made in Tolmie. The stand for the electron burner saw was also made here out of recycled timber using mortice and tenon joints cut by router and by mortise chisels.

If you want to buy a ticket for the hamper, send $2 per ticket to the Tolmie Tavern Mansfield Whitfield Rd, Tolmie Vic 3723 to support this wonderful little community who banded together and supported each other under the threat of the bushfires and so readily accepted and welcomed us.

Even better, come up here, visit us and we can drop up the road and have a cold one in the Tolmie Tavern. There is always a bed here for visitors.

Cousin Pommie - I asked about your cousin down at the pub tonight and they thought she must be Liz O***. If so, she is fine.
Hi Wood Borer - Thanks so much for enquiring at the pub re Liz O. We're so pleased she's OK. Hope things are looking better for you all up there.

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year from a cold, frosty foggy London!

[Pommie Cousin]

Mate, I don't know her as we have just moved up here 5 weeks ago. If you can give me further details in a personal message such as address, surname or phone number, I would only be too happy to make contact and forward on your concerns and best wishes.

My wife Meg might know your cousin or I can ask down at the pub next time I'm down there.

There has not been any loss of property or lives in Tolmie so that should put your mind at rest. As I have said in previous posts, the media have beaten it up a bit and the main danger has passed.

Tolmie is a wonderful part of the world so your cousin has good taste, that's why my family moved to Australia about 200 years ago. My wife's people were transported out here at the same time or maybe slightly earlier (First Fleet Convicts).

Are you into woodwork over there in the UK or did you just happen across this Bulletin Board because of the fires?

Al, What on earth are you thinking of doing?:eek:
Hi Just read your other message to me on the board. No I'm not into woodwork I just happened across your site looking for info on the fires. My cousin Liz was over here in November for a family reunion. We only traced her about 3 years ago when my sister and I were tracing our family tree. We're planning to try and get over there in the next year or so and would love to meet you and show our appreciation for your help - perhaps a drink or two (or three!) at the Tolmie Tavern sounds good for starters.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards Sue

[Wood Borer]

We look forward to it Sue, the beer is cold but you will get used to it :)

There is a strange noise on our tin roof - stuff falling from the sky:confused: Only the odd drop now and then but hopefully a bit more this arfternoon or tonight.

I have removed the plugs from the down pipes (to keep the spouts full of water to extinguish any embers) and moved the downpipes sideways so if there is any rain, all the soot and ashes from the fires will not go into our water tanks. When the water looks clear I will direct the water back to the tanks.

[TassieKiwi]

Wonderful job WB, and a good deed, indeed!

[Daddles]

We had a front come through Adelaide - heavy storms and all. Following Victoria's usual practice of getting our weather only worse, I hope it keeps on going ... though you could probably avoid the 'worse' bit. A good, state wide soakage would go a long way towards easing things.

Richard
waterwings crossed in hope :D

[echnidna]

Theres only been very light sprinles of rain down here.

[Wood Borer]

Send her across Daddles, grab a bit but not too much Bob and then kick it across here.:D

They forecast strong Northerly winds prior to any rain which will play havoc for the people around Walhalla and Sawmill Settlement. We are OK here but not getting cocky.

[DanP]

Looking at the radar there should be a good bit of rain coming over, Rob. We just had a fine sprinkle but there looks to be plenty coming through Nagambie and Shepparton, which should come through to you.

Dan

[DanP]

The latest radar. Looks good to come through your area.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I certainly hope so, Dan, we've had a couple of periods of strong gusts today; the last bad enough to put a tree in our swimming pool... I've just come in after taking the chainsaw for a run

But not even the slightest hint of a sprinkle. These winds are gonna make our boys lives a misery if there's not some serious rain following hard behind... :(

[DanP]

Been pretty gusty here too. Hopefully they get enough rain to knock the go out of the fires. We're getting a bit of rain here now. Not enough to even wet a big fire but it's better than the nothing we've had for the last couple of months.

Dan

[Gumby]

WOW !!!

It's absolutely pi$$ing down here now.....Hope it gets to the fires.

[Iain]

Just heard a great clap of thunder, dogs just did a runner and hid under the bed, now, where's the rain, half an hour away I hope.

[Gumby]

It's very heavy here. if this gets to the right place, the fire will be out very quickly. :)

[Doughboy]

This is great news!!!

Yay for the rain...

Pete

[Iain]

Wow, just hit here, it is absolutel pi55ing down, more than I expected:D :D :D

[Gumby]

It's stopped :(

[ozwinner]

We got the legendary 6 drops.

Al :(

[Gumby]

bugger :mad:

It's started again here, just light but the cloud is very thick and low.


edit 2 minutes later....it's heavy again, not like before but good enough.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Just had our first drops... a few brazillian gallons in 5 mins, then stopped. Looks like more though... a lot more.

There must've been a BBQ on one of the hills between your place and ours, Gumby, so the clouds lingered for a while... :rolleyes:

[DanP]

We got about 15 - 20mm here, enough to knock the fire down a bit, but you'd need about 100mm to really put a dent in it. Interested to see how much WB got.

Should give the boys a well earned rest though.

Dan

[Wood Borer]

We got 5mm :(

I bought the rain gauge when we first arrived and it's the first time it's got wet. A pity I hadn't bought when it snowed here the first week.

There is promise rain tomorrow and Christmas day.

I heard that a few hundred fire volunteers were being sent home to spend Christmas with their families - what a wonderful gift for them. They will be back shortly after Christmas though.

We are still safe, more than we can say about the people towards and in Gippsland, the poor devils have been threatened for weeks and they are at the stage of wanting it to either burn them them out or go out. We got off lightly as we were only under serious threat for about a week but the tension, smoke, lack of sleep, uncertainty and anxiety after a week does tend to wear you down a bit so I could only imagine what it would be like after a few weeks.

Knowing people yourselves care is very helpful and I thank you lot from the bottom of my heart for showing that care.

During the serious periods, it was good to be able to write down what was happening and to respond to questions and kind thoughts, it tended to put things in perspective.

[AlexS]

Glad all's well for you, happy Christmas Meg & Rob.

[Wood Borer]

Thanks Alex and the same to you and Christine.

Still blue skies with some clouds but the barometer is dropping.

[Iain]

It has just started to spit rain here, barometer falling and getting a bit cool.
BBQ for dinner (grilled chicken marinated with fresh rosemary, chilli, lemon rind and juice, garlic and olive oil) and I think it may be unpleasant for the chef :( .
Anyway, logging off until I get back on again, have a good one and I hope it stays cool for you with no fear of new outbreaks for the Christmas break.

[ozwinner]

Still blue skies with some clouds but the barometer is dropping.

Maybe if you had of nailed that nail in properly the barometer wouldnt be dropping..or is it the white ants?

Al :p :p :p :D :D :D

[ozwinner]

The wife and I went up to Robs and Megs today for a visit...

What a disaster everything was black and bunt to a crisp. :eek:

Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!


Rob still hasn't got the hang of that Byootifull BBQ that Santa brought him, but apart from that it was a wonderful day with wonderful company.

Took us all of 2 hours to get there.

Only kidding about the burnt food too....:rolleyes::p

We had the pleasure of meeting Rob and Megs daughter Laura and her better half Jarred ( hoop I got the speeling wright ).

Thanks Guys..:brava

Al :yeah:

[Grunt]

You shudda gone up before the fires, much better.

[echnidna]

Bit of rain and it'll green up very fast.

[ozwinner]

Bit of rain and it'll green up very fast.

What, the sausage?

Al :rolleyes:

[Wood Borer]

It was good to catch with Al and Libby and try out the new BBQ.:yeah:

Wonderful little Shortbread House made by Libby.

The Echidna label wine nicely washed down the BBQ, it was made from grapes and not road kill.

I am sure it will green up very nicely when we get some rain Bob.:)

[ozwinner]

Owwhhh yes almost forgot, we saw the actual Bower bird and its blue bits, what a strange bird, building the bower so close the the home? Strange..

Al :)

[Grunt]

Owwhhh yes almost forgot, we saw the actual Bower bird and its blue bits, what a strange bird, building the bower so close the the home? Strange..

Al :)

Shouldn't this get sent to the naughty room? I mean seeing the birds blue bits.:eek:

[ozwinner]

Some piccies of the day.

Al :rolleyes::p

[Cliff Rogers]

Geeze Al, you could've had a shave. :down:

A head like yours would scare little children. :sneek:

[ozwinner]

I had a shave 2 nights ago, gees, no pleasing you blokes.

On a more serious note..

On the way out from Rob and Meg's place there was a great cloud of smoke way off to the east, I mean BIG......so someone is copping it.

Al :(

[Wood Borer]

Let's hope it isn't Eastie.

[Eastie]

Not yet Rob. There's been heaps of fire breaks pushed up, back burning and grading for weeks now. We've just finished getting stock off and we're leaving it to gods for the next couple of weeks.

[scooter]

Fingers crossed, Eastie.

[Eastie]

Well, after 6 weeks of fire it's now to the south, east and following lightning earlier today it's a stone throw away to the north on Mount Tambo. Other than a truck load of burnt leaf litter that's been falling, the days without sun and the never ending supply of CFA and RFS tankers from NSW you'd hardly notice there was a fire!

Listening to the radio it's again looking like coming in towards Tolmie.

Looking at the satellite images (http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/fas/?SEAustralia3)there also appears to be fire on the border between Coberas and Kosciusko, but the media has ignored that along with the fire that's active near Falls and the one that's burnt the eastern edge of the Thompson Dam last week?

[dadpad]

Swmbo had a bit of a meeting here (art/drama group). Its too hot inside and outside under the gumtree is nice so they have their meeting there. Flakes of ash kept falling on the paperwork.