1 of 3

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

looked about to see what last minute thing we could save. Our beloved chickens, my love and joy, my pets, had to be left behind as we had nothing to transport them in and no where to put them at our safety destination. I had to make the decision to let them fend for themselves or risk their lives at our destination with foxes in the new area. These are the decisions I had to make when evacuating the sanctity of our home. I filled the chicken's water and food to the brim and left Trentham in our cars and headed for Mount Waverley, in the suburbs of Melbourne.

We can rebuild a house, buy more chickens, but that was part of our decision of what personal effects to take and what to leave behind to burn. We had three hours more than what many others didn't have, such in King Lake, Marysville, Bendigo and other fire effected areas; we also had our lives.

We evacuated Trentham, wondering if I would ever see our home, belongings and beautiful chickens ever again and thanking God for the volunteers in the CFA for protecting our little country town. These complete strangers who I had never met were putting their lives at risk for me and our town.

Thank God it rained a week later for four days in the Daylesford area and the fires were extinguished. May it rain on the other fires around Victoria.

Learn more about this author, Darren Brealey.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Memoirs: Wild fires in Australia 2009?
We want to hear your view. Write now!