Bushfire: Our community responds
The community

‘It's probably the biggest, most devastating marathon I've ever faced. It's like a bomb went off. The neighbours who stayed said the house just exploded in a couple of seconds… We are just putting one foot in front of the other. It's going to be a lot of small, painful steps, but we'll get on top of it. We'll be back, better than ever.’

Robert de Castella, former marathon runner and resident of Canberra.
Herald Sun, 20 January 2003, p. 4.

 

 

Photographer: Sandy Scheltema. David Woodburn of the Wulgulmerang community at the burntout site of his seldom seen service station. Eight out of eighteen homes were burnt. He also lost his home. Wulgulmerang, 2003.
© Courtesy of The Age.

Photographer: Simon O'Dwyer. CFA Strike Team Leader Phil Charles from the region eight area with his team of twenty eight firefighters watches as the fire comes up the gully and over the house. The firefighters spent three hours saving the property of Cliff and Marie Brammall from Jibbo Park as fires rage across the Alpine Planes, 2003.
© Courtesy of The Age.

Photographer: Paul Harris, son of Peter Harris. Peter Harris with mother's and grandmother's rings found in his family home which was destroyed by Canberra bushfires. The Harris family lived in this house since it was built in 1976. Photographer: Paul Harris, son of Peter Harris.
© Courtesy of The Age.

Photographer: Simon O'Dwyer. Gayle and Bob Kelly survey the ruins of her cousin Les Bourke whose home burnt to the ground in the Omeo valley. Les was having an eye operation at the time of the fire and not on the property.
© Courtesy of The Age.

Photographer: Simon O'Dwyer. The town of Omeo engulfed by flames as wild fire finally hits the town which has been burning out of control over the last three weeks.
© Courtesy of The Age.