by Philip Whitcher | Dec 15, 2021 | Operation Thorpe Reflection, Community Stories
The day the fires came into Mallacoota a farmer friend told me it is really coming. My house is on the outskirts of Mallacoota, my driveway is quite long, so I thought, if I stay, I won’t know if the fire comes to us, so decided to go to the shop. I planned to...
by Philip Whitcher | Oct 19, 2021 | Community Stories, News, Operation Hannaford Reflection
In December 2019, devastating bushfires ripped through the Adelaide Hills, destroying 86 houses and damaging around 160 more as well as burning through hundreds of hectares of farmland and vineyards. Following these unprecedented Black Summer bushfires, Disaster...
by Philip Whitcher | Jun 10, 2021 | Community Stories, Operation Corkhill Reflection, Operations
I have lived in the area for over 40 years on and off. I moved to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and lived there for nine years before coming back here. It’s our family farm of 200 acres. We, my son and daughter-in-law, left for town two days before the fire came...
by Philip Whitcher | Jun 5, 2021 | Community Stories, Operation Corkhill Reflection, Operations
One of our biggest concerns, when the bushfires were coming, were our cattle. We wanted them to be safe, and despite everything, they all survived. No burnt hooves, none needed to be put down. The rest of the property didn’t fare so well. Our house narrowly survived...
by Philip Whitcher | Jun 4, 2021 | Community Stories, Operation Corkhill Reflection, Operations
It was all a bit surreal when the fires came through. It may have been 18 months ago but the feelings are all still there and quite upsetting. I remember that when I drove out of here with a few things in my caravan I didn’t realise how close it was, or how serious...
by Philip Whitcher | May 13, 2021 | Community Stories, News, Operation Elliot News, Operation Elliot Reflections
Peta Pinson is the first woman elected to the role of Mayor in the region of Port Macquarie-Hastings, NSW. For her first term in office, she has witnessed two fires, an ongoing pandemic and is now overseeing the recovery of her community after the devastating...