Grief

[David Campbell]

Thanks, Wazza. As Heather says, the reality can be much more daunting than the dream when it comes to rebuilding. It's hard enough to overcome the emotional trauma involved, but the cost of rebuilding in fire-prone areas is considerable given all the new regulations. I suspect that many of the homes destroyed in Wye River and Separation Creek were pretty old, and insurance is bound to fall short when it comes to replacing them. It can be a long, expensive, and very frustrating process. Time helps to heal wounds, but judging by stories down here after Ash Wednesday, some scars will always remain. As Heather's book undoubtedly shows. You can't recreate memories.

David

[Heather]

Wazza I have friends who said it cost them an additional $70,000 to rebuild because of the fire compliance ratings - double glazed windows, brick and concrete outside, special screens for the windows etc. After seven years those particular people have decided they hate their new house and surroundings so much and have sold up and are moving in a few weeks. Another friend says they are about $400,000 out of pocket (yep $400,000, that's not a mistake) - taking into account the new building codes, cost of replacing trees, fences and even gravel.

Heather

[David Campbell]

Heather, it’s sad to hear about those people hating their new house, but very understandable. Quite apart from limitations imposed by new regulations, there’s something soulless about a lot of what gets built these days. Our small, pretty basic, single-storey place was built in 1981 and was quite in character for a quiet village on the coast. Now the only things that go up in the area seem to be large two-storey suburban-style monstrosities crammed onto tiny blocks. Developers buy the land, subdivide as much as they can, sell it off, and move on.

Adding to the problems that locals are facing is the inevitable criticism in the media: “Well, what do you expect when you choose to live in a high fire-risk area?” That’s tough to deal with because the very features that attract people to a region like this are the same ones that can make it so dangerous. If you ripped out all the flammable bushland and built a six-lane freeway along the coast it’d be much safer, but who’d want to live there? In the end you make your choice, take precautions, and appreciate what you have while you can.

David

[Heather]

A lot of people hated their new houses initially David but got over it once it had special things in it again. This particular couple had a pretty horrific time (they sheltered in a shipping container) and to make matters worse it was their daughter's 6th birthday that day. They are extremely lucky to be alive. The burnt and dead trees are a constant reminder. I'm really pleased that they are moving as it is a fresh start and will be a big step in the healing.

[Shelley Hansen]

Powerful writing as always David - bearing out a comment of Terry's that a poem doesn't have to be long to have an impact.

Reading what you said about the heat of Ash Wednesday fires reminded me of a bushfire on our road here in Queensland some years ago. We don't have the type of country subject to high speed infernos and exploding trees, but even so, there were houses threatened (but ultimately saved). After it was over one man reached into his pocket for his reading glasses, only to find that the non-metal frames had completely melted. Yet I'm sure that fire was nothing in comparison to Ash Wednesday.

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the current situation - and we hope that the ongoing danger will not be prolonged.

Cheers
Shelley

[David Campbell]

Thank you Shelley, and yes, brevity can be very effective. Especially as an introduction to poetry for those not very familiar with it.

Although part of the Great Ocean Road has been reopened down here and residents are being allowed back into undamaged homes, the fire is still burning back in the hills and may do so for some weeks without heavy rain. So the threat remains and we're bound to get some more nasty weather in January/February.

David