I wasn’t in the country the day of Black Saturday. The disaster unfolded for me in fiery images on the television 10,000 miles away in a snowy, cold and more-often-than-not dark Blighty.
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Such was the ferocity of the blaze that it received widespread coverage in England, an oddity when crocodile deaths and revolving Prime Ministers were all that rated mentions - and then only something small.
From that distance it seemed remote, until the news that renowned and revered Nine news anchor Brian Naylor and his wife Moiree were among the 173 killed.
I didn’t know any of the others who perished, except through distant associations with friends. But Brian was a familiar face. Somebody who I had watched over the years, almost a “friend” who visited each evening bringing the news of the day. The death came as a shock. If it could happen to him, it could happen to anybody.
The year after the fires I was in Kinglake, in the same area where the fire had hit the Nayor’s property like a “tornado”.
Read more: Black Saturday 10th looms for survivors
A sea of singed trees lined the roads I travelled - they looked much like Macedon after the 1983 Ash Wednesday blazes, the land turned black with soot and scarring.
Over the years the forest has reclaimed the areas that Black Saturday decimated. Towns and houses have been rebuilt. Our beautiful land is now beautiful and inviting once more.
Time has, to an extent, healed some wounds. People have mourned the loved ones lost. Tried to start their lives anew. But they never forget.
For some, the anniversary today will be too painful. A case of “I can’t wait until it’s Friday” and the day is in the past. For others in central Vicotoria and beyond it is a chance to remember what happened, recalling their own, very personal tales of loss and fear.
We’ve learnt much from Black Saturday. Each new hot day it is used as a benchmark. If it’s at Black Saturday levels of heat and wind then everybody starts to worry. To plan. To pack.
Few are now willing to risk getting caught. Which may be the lasting lesson learnt.
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