Even before getting out of bed, we can smell the smoke here in Sydney where I live.
The day can begin with a feeling of what’s going to happen and what can I do?
The RFS and Emergency Services crew, many who are volunteers, are working their tukkas off doing all they can. There are no words for their courageous hearts and exhausted efforts.
What has also got my attention is a depth of kindness and fierce support that has rallied itself together from local and greater communities.
It is grass roots movements and every day people that feels to be holding our country up right now, doing what they can to support those directly battling the blazes, be of help to families who have lost their homes or rescuing/ assisting injured wildlife.
From A fiver for a farmer and Rescue Craft co to volunteer fire fighters that started their own GoFund me campaigns for respiratory masks and everyday folk gathering up supplies for local brigades.
This is people power in action.
And it’s gaining momentum.
A fiver for a farmer started by Jack Berne is a fundraising campaign that has inspired the entire country. Jack is 10 years old and happens to be one of my cousins’ nephews. He just wanted to help the farmers, and as a result of this, has amplified awareness of the long standing drought – and what it actually means and looks like for the farmers, animals and land.
It has also given regular members of the community a way to help.
And clearly people want to help.
Rescue Craft co is a group on Facebook (it has 8500 members as I write this) consisting of regular folk who knit, sew or crotchet to make, craft and provide items such as bat wraps, bat pouches, hanging bags for joeys and crotched birds nests for injured animals from the Australian bush fires. People have requested to join from all over the world and are sending in their handmade items.
What to get crafting for a cause? Specific patterns are provided in the group for anyone who would like to get busy knitting.
Wollombi Firefighting Fund is but one of many fundraising campaigns set up by regular people to help the firies. This one directly is supporting local fire brigades in the Wollombi Valley: Bucketty, Laguna and Wollombi – to enable these brigades to purchase the equipment, resources and supplies they need.
There are so many established organisations along with new projects happening and groups forming to help at this time of crisis. Check in with your local fire brigade or animal rescue organisation such as WIRES to see what they might need.
More than ever right now we need rain.
The people, the animals and the land need life-sustaining water. Until plentiful rain comes it’s fire fighters and Emergency Services crew literally on the front lines protecting what they can.
As for those of us that “don’t hold a hose” as our Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he himself doesn’t in a statement this morning from Hawaii where he is on a family vacation, there is so much that can be done.
The drought is two years long thus far.
The bush fires have been raging for months.
There is so much that can be done, and more that is needed.
The people can see that and are grabbing it by the reigns.
A big thank you to my sister Krisi who answered the call out for supplies from Medlow Bath Fire Brigade. A four hour round trip by car. She organised a collection of donations – that ended up being from a group of several women, including our sister Dana. And off I went with Krisi on Monday to deliver a car full of requested items.
Basic items like toilet paper.
Thanks to Caroline, the Station Secretary for greeting us with such warmth, and generous hugs.
Even before Caroline unpacked the bags, she wanted to note down our names and contact address to send a thank you – that is the calibre of kindness going on. She even asked if it would be okay for her to share the supplies with other local brigades. Ah, yes!
There’s much to be frustrated, enraged and upset about right now in regards to how the drought and bush fires are being addressed and dealt with by the government.
Where this could be cause for wider division amongst the people, instead I’m only seeing, hearing and learning about how it is bringing everyday people together.
It is with great sadness today Australia woke up to the news two volunteer fire fighters from Horsley Park crew lost their lives. Both were in their 30’s and fathers of young families.
On Thursday NSW was officially declared as being in a State of Emergency for the next seven days. The same was declared on 11 November for seven days. Which means, even when this official title is lifted (as it was in November) the bush fires spanning hundreds of thousands of hectares (as of 7 December 2 million hectares have been burnt or are burning in NSW this bush fire season) and the long-standing drought will still be impacting people, animals and the land – and will continue to need awareness and on-going assistance.
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, dismayed, frustrated, angry, in grief or helpless during such times, here’s a quote from Jack, inspired by his school’s motto;
“You do whatever you can, even if that’s just a little thing.” – Jack Berne
Indeed.
Thank you for being here and reading these words.
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So much love,
Jelena xx