Remembering the Black Saturday victims

[burmeselover]

Today is the 1 year anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires, the worst in Australia's history. I get upset and feel like crying when I see things on TV about it because I very nearly lost family in Kinglake, one of the most devastated towns. My partner's family live in Kinglake and that afternoon his mum called up in terror saying that there was fire on every side and they didn't know if they were going to survive. She said her goodbyes believing that it was the last time she would be able to speak to us.
I was pregnant with Alice at the time and we waited in shock for several hours before we had word that his family had survived. The next morning when day broke and the devastation and death toll began to be revealed, we could not believe how lucky his family had been to live when so many others died. Fire literally came within metres of their home and it was luck that saved them, nothing else.
A few days later, when his family was still trapped in burnt out Kinglake, Alice kicked for the first time and I sent a text message to my partner's mum and she said it gave her such hope and joy.

[Pagea]

How upsetting for you all, but what a beautiful thing that Alice kicked then to give you something happy to focus on. I can't believe it's a whole year ago. I hope all the communities are starting to get back on track. How are your in laws doing?

[Skip]

My god how awful for you all. Are you coping ok with the anniversary? These things can creep back up and hit you really hard even years later. Though thank goodness your family were ok. And how lovely that Alice gave you all hope.

My sisters live in Melbourne and one of them was out camping with friends and my niece. They were far enough away to be safe but they said they suddenly felt this enormous rush of hot wind pass by them. The tents were blown away and they knew it was from a bushfire - they considered putting the kids on their shoulders and wading into a lake to try to be safe. Luckily they were ok and it didn't come near them, but I remember seeing it on the news and the terrible feeling of "oh my god what if they're not ok?"...

Can you do something to commemorate note only your family's survival but the people who didn't? Plant a tree with Alice or something memorable?

[toogoodoo]

Thinking of you, your family and families of everyone involved. x

[Rubyrose]

How awful for your family. I can't imagine being in the position of having to say your goodbyes like that. I think the tree idea is lovely. It could be a really special way to mark your thanks for your DH's family's survival and also as a remembrance to the people who weren't so lucky, and lovely to be able to involve Alice. x

[burmeselover]

The tree idea is excellent. I will speak to my partner's family and see if they would like to plant a special tree together on their Kinglake property.
Unfortunately the impact of the fires contributed to my partner's parents' marriage breaking down. They both have post traumatic stress and are seeing psychologists.
The communities affected are in various stages of recovery and rebuilding. Kinglake is still very black. The burned out houses have been cleared but few have been rebuilt. Every time you drive past all the empty house blocks where there's just blackened earth and some rubble, you feel bleak. The drive up the mountain to Kinglake used to be beautiful Australian bush and you had to watch out for kangaroos, echidnas and wombats. Now you can see across the hills to the other side because the trees are just black trunks. Many of the trees are still alive and growing beautiful new leaves but the undergrowth and grasses are taking a lot longer to come back.
I am coping OK with the anniversary but seeing all the anniversary reports on TV brought a big lump to my throat and I had to fight back the tears.

[superflexee]

This brought tears to my eyes. I'm thinking of you and your family.
An event like that is so shocking, I really find it hard to comment at all.
I do love the idea of planting a tree. What a special story about Alice kicking too, something so beautiful in amongst all that sadness and loss. x