Record-breaking heat scorches southern Australia

[Noela]

All you folks who want to go live in Australia,
read Dantheman's posts.

I have a daughter on the Sunshine Coast and
a son in Townsville. Until a few years back
his address was Crocodile Road - or was it
Alligator Avenue - I forget.

I tell you what - I'd rather be in Bristol (U.K.)
at the moment where we,ve had snow for
two days and temperatures below freezing.
Great! None of that 45 degree heat for me -
I had it long enough!

To say nothing of being rid of the cockroaches!

[Steve_A]

Hi Noela,

I was under the impression that people never wanted to live in Australia, they were transported there.

Do you mean to say we have to pay to go there now?

I'll be!

Best regards,

Steve

Originally Posted by Noela

All you folks who want to go live in Australia,
read Dantheman's posts.

I have a daughter on the Sunshine Coast and
a son in Townsville. Until a few years back
his address was Crocodile Road - or was it
Alligator Avenue - I forget.

I tell you what - I'd rather be in Bristol (U.K.)
at the moment where we,ve had snow for
two days and temperatures below freezing.
Great! None of that 45 degree heat for me -
I had it long enough!

To say nothing of being rid of the cockroaches!

[Brinty]

Could the reasons for the extremes of weather in Aussie be nature's (?) way of cleansing the country for the upcoming 'EVENT'?

All the 'nasties' are being either drowned or roasted.

[Noela]

Well Steve, I,m a 3rd generation Australian - but none
of them were transported I have to say.

I hear it's quite a status symbol these days to have a
'convict' background.

Mine came from Sweden, Germany and England.

Maybe that's why I,m so drawn to this part of the
world - Britain. Rather a past life I reckon.

So long as they don,t try to transport me!

[Dantheman62]

Raging wildfires kill at least 14 in Australia

SYDNEY – Walls of flame roared across southeastern Australia on Saturday, razing scores of homes along with forests and farmland in the sunburned country's worst wildfire disaster in a quarter century. At least 14 people died and the toll could rise to more than 40, police said.

Witnesses described seeing trees exploding and skies raining ash as some of the hottest temperatures on record combined with raging winds to create perfect conditions for uncontrollable blazes.

More than 30,000 firefighters were struggling Saturday night to make headway against the largest of about a dozen fires in Victoria state that earlier in the day ripped unchecked across at least 115 square miles (30,000 hectares) of forests, farmland and towns.

"The whole township is pretty much on fire," Peter Mitchell, a resident of Kinglake, where six of the 14 confirmed deaths occurred, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio during the inferno. "There was no time to do anything ... it came through in minutes."

Victorian Premier John Brumby, whose parents' house was among those saved by firefighters Saturday, said the death toll was expected to rise "considerably."



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090207/...alia_wildfires











Sat Feb 7, 11:07 AM ET

[Dantheman62]

SYDNEY – Police say the death toll from wildfires that swept southeastern Australia has risen to 25 people.

More than a dozen blazes burned unchecked Saturday in three states, with temperatures soaring and high winds fanning flames.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe told the Nine television network on Sunday that 25 deaths had been confirmed and that officials believe that number will rise further as police reach further into the fire zone.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090207/...alia_wildfires

[Carmen]

My heart goes out to those in line with those fires. It must be a terrifying prospect. Australians are tough people thought, and they will get through this.

I was thinking about Aussie farmers this morning. The world judged them harshly when the pracice of mulesing was highlighted by the media. This impacted very negatively on Australian wool market overseas.

Mulesing is when the skin on both sides of the sheep's backside is stripped off!! Horrible, and dramatic to see. This was all the media showed. They did not show the 'why'. In the vast acreage of Australia, with large flocks of sheep and great distances, the farmers do not have much contact with their sheep as in other farming countries.

Flies are a constant problem in hot weather in Australia and New Zealand to a lessor degree. They lay their eggs on the sheep's backside area, the eggs hatch and the maggots start eating the sheep alive. It must be the most horrific death, slow and painful. I was reminded myself this morning as I was treating one of my lambs with flystrike. Mulesing is painful and quickly over, flystrike is slow and ghastly. The media attack by ignorant people was grossly unfair, and did not show the complete picture. Not much love and light in this post, but its truthful, and needed to be said. People need to search for the complete truth, not just media spin.

[AussieG]

On a personal note
My wife has an Aunt in Marysville that has lost every thing, and her daughter and children were trapped in a car when a burning tree fell on them, fortunately they were saved however the daughter is in hospital with head injuries.

in suburbia, 5 ks from us 6 houses were lost in a deliberately lit grass fire. People when to the shopping malls to escape the heat, only to come home and find their homes were burnt to the ground.

SteveT :
I was under the impression that people never wanted to live in Australia, they were transported there.

You have lost me respect!

[Dantheman62]

84 killed in deadliest-ever Australian wildfires

HEALESVILLE, Australia – Towering flames razed entire towns in southeastern Australia and burned fleeing residents in their cars as the death toll rose to 84 on Sunday, making it the country's deadliest fire disaster.

At least 700 homes were destroyed in Saturday's inferno when searing temperatures and wind blasts produced a firestorm that swept across a swath of the country's Victoria state, where all the deaths occurred.

"Hell in all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters as he toured the fire zone on Sunday. "It's an appalling tragedy for the nation."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090208/...alia_wildfires

[Dantheman62]

You can view about 107 pictures of the fires here!....
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Wildfi...5bc47205d6a779

[Steve_A]

Hi AussieG,

I'm very sorry to hear of the tragic events that happened to your family recently. When thing like this happen, it takes us by suprise and it normally hurts.

As for my quip about not wanting to go to Aus, I shouldn't take it too close to heart, that sort of comment has been flying around for years. I'm sure that later on you will smile and like a good Australian will tell me to f*** off!

Respect is something we earn, so I will try and earn your respect from now on.

I hope that everything is fine and keep safe.

Best regards,

Steve

Originally Posted by AussieG

On a personal note
My wife has an Aunt in Marysville that has lost every thing, and her daughter and children were trapped in a car when a burning tree fell on them, fortunately they were saved however the daughter is in hospital with head injuries.

in suburbia, 5 ks from us 6 houses were lost in a deliberately lit grass fire. People when to the shopping malls to escape the heat, only to come home and find their homes were burnt to the ground.

SteveT :
I was under the impression that people never wanted to live in Australia, they were transported there.

You have lost me respect!

[Brinty]

It is devastating and life shattering to lose family members and friends. The only comfort we have is that we will be with them again when our turn comes to cross that great divide.

It's the wildlife that I feel for. Not so much for the ones that die quickly, but for the ones that lay badly burned and still struggling to survive. Here are just a few photos of koalas that, in a complete reversal of their usual habits, have deliberately sought human assistance in their desire to live.

[rhythm]

Originally Posted by brinty

it is devastating and life shattering to lose family members and friends. The only comfort we have is that we will be with them again when our turn comes to cross that great divide.

It's the wildlife that i feel for. Not so much for the ones that die quickly, but for the ones that lay badly burned and still struggling to survive. Here are just a few photos of koalas that, in a complete reversal of their usual habits, have deliberately sought human assistance in their desire to live.

brinty those pic are heartbreaking mate ilove them little critters
so sad and sweet at the same time . Stay safe you ozzis.
We got a flood goin on in my town today , and more rain on the way .thinkin of you ,in difficult days .all love rhythmmm .

[sunflower]

Those Koala pictures are precious. It is so difficult as a tourist to get to see any. If they are asleep, that's it. These shy creatures must have been desperate.

My heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to all afflicted by this terrible firestorm. So unexpected and as some reports indicate perhaps deliberately set. Will there be extensive government assistance? Although no amount of help will bring back those who died. Our extreme climate changes have certainly begun.

A few years ago I experienced 37 degrees in Katherine Gorge (near Darwin) and was told that at the top the temp was 40 degrees. People were kayaking and having a great time. Me, I thought I'd faint. I very much prefer -15 on a sunny windless day.

[Brinty]

I agree with you sunflower about the temperatures. We moved here from New Zealand in 1994 and it took us a while to acclimatise. Elaine starts to melt at around 26C (79F) and I start at around 36 (97). We take turns in a cold shower over 40.