I am listening to the radio and people of parliament offering their condolences and words of encouragement. Plans on how to rebuild the destroyed communities are being discussed. And people who are caught lighting fires on purpose, will be charged on account of murder.
Ash Wednesday occurred around the time I was born. So I have no recollection of the event and the ash that covered everything, even in inner city suburbs like Clifton Hill. (Where I spent the first few years of my life.) It is interesting that being so close to the bushlands that are burning, I have very little knowledge of what I should do in a situation like that, yet alone find out information and how I can help anyone.
The juxtaposition (yes, I am using that word) between inner city and outer city living is a bit of a joke really. I don’t think people are taught much knowledge in the way of living anymore. For example, people do not seem to comprehend the importance of total fire ban days. And the devastation that a single cigarette can have on the country. There was one fire in particular that is said to have been started by a cigarette… This makes little sense to me. Apart from the simple little fact that it is littering.
I have never seen friends and family shaken up so much by an event. I guess I am from a pretty sheltered generation. I know we are in a time of war too, but we no longer deal with that face to face. We deal with it through television, movies and the internet, if we so choose too. This, people can’t ignore. It affects people we know and has taken so many lives, not to mention homes, livestock. I hope people give. I hope the government helps the people that have lost their families, friends, homes, towns. This is truly a surreal time and I, as everyone else, send my thoughts to those that are doing all their best to combat the fires.
