7-2-2012
Today marks the third year anniversary since the Black Saturday bushfires ignited.
I'm breaking my ongoing posting just to highlight this day and the memories it brings forward for me and many.
I have little I feel capable of talking of right now and part of me still wishes, three years on, that it had been all just a bad dream. Today is naturally not an easy day for me. But...
All I want to say is...
May we never forget that day, and the weeks that followed.
May we never forget those who died.
My own thanks to my fellow crewmembers who stuck by me, and to ALL of our fire service for sticking together and looking after our own through it all and through the inevitable media backlash of "why didn't 'they' do more?".
May all who fought the fires be forever proud - whether you are still serving, resigned or retired. We all need to proud - we did ALL we could.
May the State of Victoria, and, by extension, any state threatened by wildfires, remember to NEVER assume the worst cannot happen.
May the lessons learnt that day have not been learnt in vain or forgotten and may they be passed on for many years to come.
May those now in threat of fire PLAN, THINK and DECIDE what they are going to do - and stick to it. Houses are replaceable. Cars, caravans, sheds, ditto. Lives are gone forever.
May the young girl, who I discovered in the aftermath and who's smiling face from media photos still haunts me daily, rest in peace forever under God's care.
May those who lost loved ones know they won't be forgotten. Let us NEVER FORGET.
~ RIP ALL 177 VICTIMS OF BLACK SATURDAY ~
