Price $1.

50
FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2014

SCORCHED

THE Wimmera was ablaze last night
and communities were under threat as
multiple fires burned across the region.
As the Mail-Times went to press
last night, two fires had merged in the
Grampians and residents at Wartook
and Laharum had been warned it was
too late to leave.
Residents in towns including
Yaapeet, Warracknabeal, Hopetoun
and Rainbow were also on alert.
A relief centre was established at
Horsham Senior Citizens Centre, while
the Country Fire Authority scheduled
meetings for vulnerable communities.
A meeting was at Laharum last night
and Halls Gap and Dadswells Bridge
people will attend meetings today.
As the mercury topped 40 degrees
for the fourth consecutive day yester-
day, Wimmera councils stepped up
procedures for checking on the welfare
of those most in need.
Councils and health services told
staff to avoid unnecessary travel.
Fire-fighters have battled extreme
conditions this week and the Bureau
of Meteorology predicts today will be
no different, with a top of 44 degrees
in Horsham and the chance of a late
storm. Fire behaviour analyst Andrew
Sturgess – who was at the Laharum
meeting – said today would be a
borderline catastrophic fire danger
day.
Yaapeet Fire Brigade captain Troy
Fisher was among 50 to 60 people who
battled for three days to keep Yaapeet
safe.
He said crews had established con-
tainment lines by yesterday afternoon
but the fire was not yet under control.
“We had it come up to private
properties, but we’ve had no assets
lost,’’ he said.
Mr Fisher said crews would continue
to focus on containment and keeping
Yaapeet safe.
Yaapeet woman Jan Edelsten
described the atmosphere yesterday
as scary and apprehensive.
Mrs Edelsten was one of about 20
women at the town’s relief centre.
“Everyone’s got a good community
spirit,’’ she said.
She said people knew how to
respond.
“We’re already prepared,’’ she said.
“Everyone’s got their evacuation
plans in place.’’
Mrs Edelsten slammed the lack of
mobile phone coverage in the area.
“We’ve got a desperate need for a
mobile phone service,’’ she said.
“Emergency services out in the
fires – they haven’t got any service,
just their radios.
“Strike teams can’t contact their
families after they’ve been fighting
the fires to let them know they’re safe.’’
Mrs Edelsten said the community
had been lobbying Telstra for a com-
munications tower.
● For more fire coverage, see pages
8-11.

Weather: Late change, max 44 ● Opinion 20 ● Community 21 ● Domain 27-46 ● Country Cars 47-54

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Week of extreme heat
Temperatures
Matt Coughlan
41.2 41.8 40.7
THE Wimmera has sizzled through 39.2 40.8
this week’s heatwave with maximum
30.0 31.1 31.2 29.8 28.2 28.1
temperatures in the low to mid 40s 28.3 27.8
prevalent throughout the district.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and WEDNESDAY noon 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm 11pm midnight
yesterday all topped 40 in Horsham,
Longerenong, Nhill, Edenhope and
Kanagulk, and with 44 forecast for
Horsham for today, highs for the entire
week are set to top 40 degrees.
Horsham has sweated through the
working week with temperatures of 41,
45, 42 and 43 degrees.
The highest reported temperature in
the Wimmera throughout the week was
46 degrees at Longerenong – the second
hottest January day on record.
Weather observer Brett Allender
said the hottest on record was 46.5 on
January 31, 1968.
Minor rainfall accompanied
Wednesday night’s storms with the
highest fall, 4.2mm, recorded at Stawell.
Elsewhere ‘dry lightning’, with
rain evaporating before reaching the
ground, was responsible for many fires
throughout the region. Some continue
to burn out of control.
Today is set to be another scorcher
with 44 degrees forecast for Horsham, 39.6
Warracknabeal and Nhill, and 43
38.4
36.1
degrees forecast for Edenhope and
Stawell. 27.1 32.6 31.9 29.0 32.9
26.6 26.0 25.8 24.9
Relief from the heat is on the way in
the late afternoon, with a cool change
expected to sweep through the region THURSDAY 1am 2am 3am 4am 5am 6am 7am 8am 9am 10am 11am noon
about 5pm.
The cool change will bring with it Temperatures in degrees Celsius.
storm activity and winds, which will Lexie Heard, 5, of Wonwondah
cause extreme fire danger.

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PAGE 8 Friday January 17 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
Caring for
community
Councils
Matt Coughlan
COUNCILS across the Wimmera are check-
ing on the welfare of people most in need
during the heatwave.
West Wimmera Shire corporate and com-
munity manager Venkat Peteti encouraged
people to avoid travel in the hot conditions.
“We’re saying if you don’t need to travel,
don’t travel – stay indoors,” he said.
Mr Peteti said the shire’s meals-on-wheels
clients had received extra provisions to keep
them safe through the week.
“We provide them with extra bottles of
water and advise them to stay hydrated and
we constantly keep an eye on the effects of
the heat,” he said.
West Wimmera Health Service told staff
not to attend any appointments outside the
service’s Nhill base.
Yarriambiack Shire Council co-ordinator
of age and disability Lisa Dunkley said
checks ensured people were taking the right
precautions to survive the heat.
“Generally we do welfare checks on all
our clients, making sure they have the cool-
ing on, blinds down and access to water,”
she said.
“They’re mostly elderly clients, so we
make sure that happens once a day.”
Hospitals swing into action
Hospitals
Emma D’Agostino
WIMMERA hospitals near the region’s fires
adapted to fire and heat-related emergencies
this week.
Rural Northwest Health was on alert late
yesterday.
Chief executive Catherine Morley
said there had yet to be any heat-related
admissions.
“But an elderly woman involved in a
house fire was admitted at Warracknabeal
on Tuesday night,” she said.
The woman sustained minor injuries.
“She did not have any burns or smoke
inhalation,” Ms Morley said.
The woman was discharged on
Wednesday morning.
A CFA spokeswoman said the house
was well alight when fire-fighters arrived
at 3.47pm on Tuesday, but could not confirm
whether it was destroyed.
Some Rural Northwest Health staff have
been unable to attend work because of fires
near their homes.
“We are coping with it and supporting
them in this difficult time,” Ms Morley said.
Rural Northwest Health’s Warracknabeal
and Hopetoun campuses are emergency
refuges, but Ms Morley said staff discour-
aged people from any unnecessary travel.
She took the advice herself, sending an
apology to a scheduled meeting at Stawell
yesterday.
“It was not appropriate to go,” she said.
Blackouts affect thousands
Electricity
Carly Werner
POWER blackouts have struck across the
Wimmera, including one on Tuesday night
in Horsham that left about 6000 homes
without power.
About 1000 Toolondo residents were
without power from about 5.40pm to 10pm
on Wednesday night, while hundreds of
residents at Haven and Balmoral were also
affected at the same time.
Meanwhile the State Government has
warned Victoria’s electricity supply might
need to be reduced as fires and storms batter
the state.
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
STOCKTAKE
SALE
David Grimble
Ms Dunkley said there had been no
reports of anyone suffering from health
problems but staff were bracing themselves
for today’s dangerous conditions.
50
“Everything’s good so far; I think Friday’s
probably going be a pretty scary day,” she
%
said.
Horsham Mayor David Grimble said the
council heat plan had swung into action.
Up to
“Council has implemented our heatwave
plan, which includes advice to the agencies
listed in the plan,” he said.
The council had rescheduled appoint-
ments with medical staff and maintained
extra contact with people registered with
them.
Big brand
OFF
mattresses,
CFA Watch and Act notices were active
in Warracknabeal and Hopetoun districts
at 5.45pm.
bedroom
West Wimmera Health Service cancelled
some of its allied health appointments.
Acting chief executive Ritchie Dodds
furniture,
said the service banned all non-essential
staff travel between its sites until tomorrow.
“We consider the potential risk to staff
manchester
and clients to be sufficient to outweigh any
inconvenience caused in the short term,”
and kids’
he said.
Mr Dodds said resources were stretched
at Rainbow, where the town’s hospital had
beds.
been helping cater for fire-fighters battling
the Yaapeet fire.
Extra workers were called on as required,
and Mr Dodds said he was keeping a close
eye on the CFA’s warnings.
“We’ve tested our back-up systems, and
we’re as confident as we can be that we will
still be able to adequately respond to any
loss of essential services such as power and
water, which might arise,” he said.
“We’ve had four heat-related admissions
since Monday – all elderly patients – which
were related to dehydration.”
All but one were admitted to Nhill
Hospital.
Wimmera Health Care Group chief
executive Chris Scott said several tradies
had been treated for dehydration since
Monday.
But aside from firing up its generators
during Tuesday’s blackout, the health
service was relatively unaffected.
He suggested families check in on any
elderly relatives.
Energy and Resources Minister Nicholas
Kotsiras said the extreme heat meant high
demand for the state’s supply which,
coupled with a reduced capacity from Loy
Yang A power station, had placed a strain
on the system.
Hurry, sale on now.
He said a reduction in power supply could
affect up to 100,000 homes and commercial
properties in Victoria, but hospitals, nursing Horsham
homes and emergency services would not 46-48 Pynsent Street VIC
be affected. Ph: 03 5381 1707
He said the Australian Energy Market
Operator – the organisation responsible for
fortywinks.com.au
managing electricity supply and demand –
had advised the government on Wednesday
afternoon it might need to reduce supply. At participating stores. Products and savings will vary from store to store. While stocks last. At participating stores only.Valid until 27.01.2014.
Friday January 17 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES PAGE 9

STRATEGY TIME: Yaapeet Fire Brigade captain Troy Fisher discusses tactics with CFA officer Joel Davies.
Wartook in peril
Bushfires out of control across Wimmera
Emergency services
By Matt Coughlan
BUSHFIRES were burning out
of control across the Wimmera
last night as the region braced for
another day of extreme fire danger.
As the Mail-Times went to
press, two fires had merged in the
Grampians, creating the Grampians-
Northern Grampians fire threaten-
ing Wartook and Laharum.
For residents of the Smiths Road
area of Wartook, it was too late to
leave.
All roads in and out of the
Grampians National Park were
closed late yesterday and will be
closed again today.
Because of the mountainous
terrain the fire was primarily being
fought from the air, with ground
crews also providing assistance, but
resources were stretched as dozens
of other fires demanded attention
elsewhere across the state.
The Country Fire Authority
advised people at Roses Gap,
PAGE 10 Friday January 17 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES
SUPPLY CHAIN: Gina Boehm, Elaine Fuller, Claire White and Jan
Edelsten prepare food for fire-fighters at Yaapeet Community Centre.
Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER
Heathvale, Laharum, Zumsteins and overnight to battle the Grampians
Wartook to leave their properties blaze but today’s conditions would
before it was too late. cause extreme danger.
Department of Environment
and Primary Industries spokes- “Whatever happens, we’re work-
woman Melissa Douglas said fire ing really hard because Friday is
crews were prepared to work hard going to be really bad,” she said.
The mercury is tipped to reach 44
degrees during the afternoon, before
a cool change brings wind gusts
of up to 80kmh and thunderstorms
about 5pm.
Elsewhere in the Wimmera, an
emergency warning was in place
for Buckhurst, Arthurs Road, Red
Bluff Road and Taylors Road north-
west of Telopea Downs to the South
Australian border because of a
fast-moving out-of-control bushfire.
Residents were advised to leave
their properties before it was too
late.
The 6656-hectare Lake
Albacutya-Yaapeet f ire also
had residents on guard with
Warracknabeal, Hopetoun and
Rainbow all remaining on alert
throughout the night.
Lightning also sparked dozens
of smaller fires across the region.
Temperature hits
shopping patterns
Business
By Matt Coughlan
WHILE no-one has welcomed this week’s extreme heat,
in some ways the scorching temperatures could not have
come at a better time for some industry sectors.
Business Horsham chairwoman Andrea Cross said for
some businesses, the heatwave had come at the same time
as the usual post-Christmas lull.
“January is generally a quiet month after the Christmas
rush,” she said.
She said the heat had affected some retail businesses
though, with many shoppers preferring to get the day’s
jobs done in the morning, making the hotter hours quiet.
“Some businesses are closing earlier than usual but it’s
not a significant impact because it’s generally their quiet
months.
“The food industry, everybody still needs to eat. There’s
still the tourist traffic that’s coming through and they’re a
lot busier in the mornings than the afternoons.”
Acting manager at Safeway Horsham Gary Ellis said
business had been steady. He echoed Mrs Cross’s sentiments
about shoppers trying to avoid the hottest part of the day.
“We’re busy still but the middle of the afternoon is too
hot for anyone to shop,” he said.
The hot weather has caused a rush on purchases designed
to cool people down. Mr Ellis said some departments were
struggling to keep up with demand.
“We sold out of watermelon halfway through the day,”
he said.
“You can’t keep up with the demand on ice-creams.”
Lightning kills cows
The aftermath
By Matt Coughlan
WEDNESDAY afternoon’s electrical storm caused heart-
break for one McKenzie Creek woman after four of her
pet cows were struck by lightning and killed.
Elsie Exell lost Gem, Suzie, Millie and Millie’s calf
Snowball in the freak accident.
“I’m 78 years old and I’ve never seen anything like it,”
she said.
“The neighbours all heard the loud thunder clap; well
it had to be a tree or something but instead of a tree being
struck it was my cows.”
The Exells’ property bore the brunt of strong storm
activity about 5pm on Wednesday, leading them to check
for fires or damage.
Mrs Exell’s husband, Ken, said what they found came
as a complete surprise.
“They were just dead under the tree. We could not see
a mark on them or anything,” he said.
The Exells said they measured 17mm of rain, consider-
ably more than the 1.6mm recorded at Horsham Aerodrome.
“It’s just so unusual, we must have been right under the
storm,” Mrs Exell said.
She said it was hard to accept such a random event had
taken away her beloved pets.
“They were all my pet cows, absolute pets they were,”
she said. “I’m feeling very sad and very disappointed, I’ve
never seen anything like it in all my lifetime.”
State Emergency Service regional operations manager
Kendra Clegg said that despite the storm, the service had
only received three call-outs including one in Anderson
Road, Dimboola, where a house was hit by lightning.
No-one was hurt in the incident, and the power supply
at the house was unaffected.
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000

Numbers up at pool
Leisure
By Matt Coughlan
HORSHAM Aquatic Centre has been
the destination of choice for many
during this week’s heatwave, with
huge numbers of people flocking to
the YMCA.
Centre manager Steve Clark said he
was delighted to see so many people
opting for the safest way to take a dip.
“The pleasing thing for me is that
they’ve chosen to come to a safe,
patrolled place to swim,” he said.
“The other pleasing thing is, I would
say 50 per cent are families.”
After comparing monthly attend-
ance statistics from last year to this
year Mr Clark said there was nothing
remarkable, given average temperatures
for this month were five degrees lower
than last year.
But it was an analysis of this scorch-
ing week that piqued his interest.
“In the current heatwave, the average
temperature has been 38, whereas last
year the average was 30 and as a result
we’ve had two and a half times the
number of swimmers,” he said.
The centre had considered extending
opening hours but Mr Clark said people
had generally gone home by close in
the evening.
“We extended additional hours on
Friday and Saturday and we’ve had the
opportunity this week to open later, but
people disperse after tea time,” he said.
Mr Clark said it was important that
people continued to choose the safest
way to swim for the remainder of the
summer.
It’s like
wearing
a coat
Animals
MANY of them might be
native to Australia but that
doesn’t mean the animals at
Halls Gap Zoo are immune
to the heatwave that has
engulfed the Wimmera.
Spare a thought for any
animal in the zoo that has
to swelter through tempera-
tures in the mid-40s wearing
a fur coat.
Zoo owner Yvonne Culell
said through the hard work
of the zoo staff, the animals
were able to get through the
hot weather.
“The girls are keeping
very busy running the
sprinklers,” she said.
Mrs Culell said extra
attention needed to be paid
to the animals to make sure
they were getting what they
needed to stay cool.
“They are monitored
more often, the water gets
changed regularly through
the day and they get shifted
to enclosures in the shade,”
she said.
Mrs Culell said between
frozen treats and constant
watering, the animals were
managing to beat the heat.
“Some enclosures get
hosed down and the animals
go to ground and lie on the
COOL POOL: Prue Heard, 5, of Wonwondah beats the heat at Horsham Aquatic Centre. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI wet ground,” she said.

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HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000 Friday January 17 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES PAGE 11
 T H E
PHONE 5362 0000
Mail-Times
INFERNO: Fire-fighters are still battling blazes in the Wimmera, which have burned more than 53,000 hectares. The Country Fire Authority took to the skies to capture images of the devastating
bushfires, which have claimed one life, 10 homes and 7000 livestock. For more photos, see pages 8 and 9. For an online gallery, visit www.mailtimes.com.au.
Bushfire toll
By CASSANDRA DALGLEISH
THE Wimmera will brace itself this
week as it deals with the aftermath of
nearly 53,000 hectares of bushfires.
The Grampians bore the brunt, with
52,000 hectares burning, while the Black
Range fire measured 975 hectares.
Horsham Incident Control Centre
media officer Robyn Hobbs said the fires
had a perimeter of 189 kilometres, and
10 houses had been destroyed.
She said five houses were in the
Wartook and Brimpaen area, three in
Dadswells Bridge and St Helens Plains
and two in the Grampians National Park.
The Troopers Creek Tavern was
engulfed, while the Happy Wanderer
Holiday Resort and Caravan Park at
Wartook also suffered some property
Weather: Sunny, max 30 ● Opinion 12 ● Community 13 ● TV 19-22 ● Comics 30
MON JAN 13 TO FRI JAN 24
W I M M E R A
Wimmera to deal with destruction
losses. The Northern Grampians fire
also claimed the life of a woman in
Roses Gap.
Mrs Hobbs said by last night
stock losses were about 7000, with
veterinarians and assessors visiting
affected properties.
She said fire-fighting crews came
from Geelong, Colac, the Otways,
Warnnambool, Hamilton, Portland,
Ararat, Ballarat and outer metropolitan
areas to help with the blazes.
“We have 700 personnel, 87 tankers,
about 120 fire-fighting vehicles, nine
dozers, five fixed-wing aircraft and seven
helicopters,’’ she said.
MONDAY JANUARY 20 2014
“There are also a number of graders
and excavators.’’
Evacuated residents flocked to relief
centres in Stawell and Horsham.
Mrs Hobbs said the Stawell centre
had 364 registrations, while Horsham
had 54 registrations.
Halls Gap and Dadswells Bridge were
opened to the public yesterday.
Road closures on the Western
Highway also ceased, while the
Grampians National Park will open
today at noon.
Pomonal residents who stayed to
defend their properties on Friday were
also left without water due to a problem
Picture: CONTRIBUTED
with the main pipeline from Halls Gap
to Pomonal.
The Pomonal Rural Fire Brigade
announced via its Facebook page on
Saturday that the mains water had
returned, but was untreated and at half
the normal pressure.
GWMWater also turned off the Halls
Gap Water Treatment Plant on Friday
because of the fires.
The water authority put boil water
notices in force for water taken from
the Halls Gap and Pomonal town water
supply systems.
Mrs Hobbs said bottled water was
available at the Halls Gap service station
The Voice
of the
Wimmera
since 1873
$1.50 (INC. GST)
and the Pomonal General Store. The boil
water notice will remain in place until
further notice.
Victorian Premier Denis Napthine
toured the region on Saturday, visiting
Horsham, Brimpaen and Stawell.
He commended emergency services
on their efforts with the Grampians fires.
“This is a stark reminder to all
Victorians that we do live in a fire-prone
part of the world,” he said.
Dr Napthine said the State
Government would work with councils
to help re-build communities devastated
by the fires.
● Tourism in the wake of the bushfires,
see page 3.
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Friday 28, Saturday 1, Sunday 2
Wednesday 5, Thursday 6 GOING: Giant Koala owner Rob McPherson has left the area in the wake of the massive fire near his business.
Friday 7, Saturday 8 Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
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YOUR LOCAL FAMILY ELECTRICIANS

Time to leave
Solar Installations Business owner follows fire plan
On the ground
Matt Coughlan
Electrical Repairs and Maintenance GIANT Koala owner Rob McPherson
was ready to leave the complex as fire
FREE No Obligation Quotes approached the property on Friday.
“I am going, I have got nothing to
fight it with,” he said.
action to give the animals at the
complex’s zoo the best chance to
survive the blaze.
“The zoo has a policy to open all
the individual enclosures and let them
fend for themselves inside the external
enclosure. We put all the sprinklers on
Mr McPherson said he had heard he
had already lost property at Wartook
as the fire took over the Northern
Grampians on Thursday night.
Friday night was set to be another
anxious wait, but he never saw staying
and defending as an option.

Call Us NOW! “Once I start seeing flames coming

this way, I am in the car and going.”
Mr McPherson said when the fire
came he would swing his plan into
and make sure there is lots of water,”
he said.
“Those are the last things I do
before I’m walking out the door.”
“People are saying they are going
to stay and fight it – how do you fight
something that is that big? You can’t,”
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Facebook page to help animals

Wildlife
Matt Coughlan
WHEN fire threatens property, a major
source of worry for many is securing
a safe place to send animals.
Tennille Deckert, Molly Willis and
Leeanne Gray have started an open
Facebook group called Grampians Fire
Animal Emergency Housing to find
temporary homes for animals at risk
during bushfires.
On the Facebook page, people
who are able to take on pets and
other animals leave their details and
can be contacted by others who are
trying to find temporary safety for
“I have a friend who is close to
Stawell and she has 20 acres,’’ she said.
“She was starting to get among
it with the fires and she has friends
looking to take on the animals.”
That sparked the idea there would
be many in similar situations.
Since its inception, the group has
seen all sorts of kind offers roll in –
sometimes beyond those relevant to
the animal kingdom.
“There’s even a bloke from Horsham
who said he could take boats, caravans
and cars,” Ms Deckert said.
Originally started to service people
affected by the Grampians fires, the
Facebook group has extended its reach
“After speaking to council and
realising there’s a real scream-out from
the other fires, there are a lot of people
out there looking for it,” she said.
Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman
Amy Amato said there were often
tragic ramifications for animals unable
to find refuge from bushfires.
“With past fires we know many
perish,” she said.
In the immediate aftermath of a
fire it could be hard for rescuers to
get access to injured or burnt wildlife
because of safety concerns.
“We’re unable to do anything as of
yet,’’ Ms Amato said.

75 Natimuk Road, 0427 504 055 their animals.

Ms Deckert said the idea came to
her after a friend near Stawell was
across the Wimmera.
Ms Deckert said the highest take-up
had been in the Stawell area, but the
“In the coming weeks we’ll be
working with the Department of
Environment and Primary Industries
Horsham
5382 4552
VR1683228

looking for somewhere for her animals group had also had responses from to see what can be done about rescuing
to go as she made her fire preparations. Kaniva, Donald, Haven and Horsham. any fire-affected wildlife.”

  
  • Plan activities
to factor in
    extreme heat
 



• Open up house
  
• Limit lighting
www.graphicinsight.com.au

• Pull down blinds

• Keep sun off windows during the day
with external shutters
• Close windows • Stay in shade
and drink plenty
• Use fans or of water
air conditioning
1209 002

For further information talk to your GP, Maternal Child Health Nurse or Home carer or visit the Department of Health Website:
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/emergency_mgmnt/heat_stress.htm
PAGE 4 Monday January 20 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000

Tension in the air
Meetings show residents the scary reality
Community
Matt Coughlan
and Emma D’Agostino
AUTHORITIES urged people
to leave their properties as the
Grampians-Northern Grampians
fire bore down on Halls Gap,
Dadswells Bridge and surrounding
communities on Friday afternoon.
The tension in the air was
palpable as the ferocity and potential
destruction of the fire was explained
to a packed audience at Dadswells
Bridge Hall.
The meeting followed a similar
one in Halls Gap that morning.
The atmosphere was heightened
when deputy incident controller
Graham Parkes interrupted the
meeting midway through to deliver
news of unexpected early winds,
giving people less time to plan their
escape.
Country Fire Authority opera-
tions manager Chris Eagle said the
unexpected change had altered their
plans as the fire could come out of
the Grampians National Park at any
earlier stage.
Wimmera Superintendent
Graham Kent said the predictions
told a very scary story.
“This fire is big, bad and nasty,”
he said.
“There’s no ambiguity about the
risk – it is real.”
Mr Kent circled the district
urging people to evacuate, but many
people instead elected to stay and
defend their properties.
“Quite a number of people,
despite the warnings, have decided
to remain,” he said.
Readers share their support
Wimmera Mail-Times
readers took to the
Mail-Times Facebook
page to post messages of
thanks and support for the
fire-fighters and volunteers
battling blazes throughout
the Wimmera. Here is
a selection of readers’
messages.
Stay safe. You are all doing a great job.
Petena Thomas
Thanks to fire-fighters just north of
my home right now.
Tegan Aitken
Thank you to all who are involved,
including my volunteer firefighter
daughter and son. Please keep safe.
Kathy Pilmore
Words of thanks will never be enough.
You are all truly our heroes.
Tracy Reid
Thinking of you Dad – Jim Fischer,
out at Telopea with the rest of the
amazing locals fighting the fire!
I’m watching the maps like a hawk all
the way from WA.
Lou A. G-bags
As a firey myself, it’s such a good
feeling knowing we are appreciated
so much. So thank you! To the ones
at the Grampians at the moment, stay
safe, look after yourselves.
Loz Hawkins
They are a breed of their own, putting
their own lives on the line for others.
Keep up the good work and stay safe.
I have a nephew, he and his wife fight
fires and you do worry about each and
every one of them xx
Heather Clifford Roberts
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
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After formal addresses from
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to confer with Mr Parkes about the
path of the fire and how it would “Our predictions and our fear is of what to do, to leave.
affect their individual properties. that the conditions will drive the fire Shortly before the meeting
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Harrison Tobin were not sure why we are urging people to leave,” fire-fighters gathered out the front
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● Laharum residents gathered at They watched with expert eyes as
discussion with Mr Parkes. the town hall on Thursday night. the wind changed, pushing smoke
“We’ve got a property just
Country Fire Authority district and flames down the Mt Difficult
outside the Western Highway
17 operations manager Dale Russell range, towards the township.
and we’re concerned about the
livestock,” he said. told people fire-fighters were as The Country Fire Authority
After Mr Parkes explained prepared as possible. issued an emergency warning for
VR1816372
how the fire would move north “But fires are unpredictable,” Laharum within one hour of the
and threaten his Murtoa property, he said. meeting. 32 firebrace st horsham 5382 1208
Thank you will never be enough! Stay
safe xx
Abbie Wilson
Thanks to our CFA and volunteers.
Tony Hull
You guys do an awesome job. Can’t
imagine what you’re going through
right now, risking your lives to keep
others safe.
Belinda Grant
A thank you is not enough to these
THIS WEEK’S
Prayers that you all come home safe
to your loved ones.
Denise Ilsley
brave men and women xo
Melanie McKinnis
Thank you so much for all that you
do! You are all amazing.
Sheryl Nitschke
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Monday January 20 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES PAGE 5
 LEAVE AND LIVE.
Mig, Rusty seeking refuge
Wartook resident and pet dog leave area in wake of the fires
Relief centres
Matt Coughlan
WARTOOK resident Mig Mayer left
her home on Wednesday night to seek
refuge from the searing heat at Green
Lake.
She lives in an environmentally
friendly tin shed in Wartook’s Snells
Road area without electricity and just
more than two feet of water in her dam.
She said she was not sure when she
would be able to return.
“It’s just minute by minute, I’m not
sure yet,” Ms Mayer said.
NERVOUS WAIT: Mig Mayer of Wartook at the emergency relief centre in Horsham “It’s a big fire as you know and it’s
with her dog Rusty. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER in such inaccessible terrain.”
Late on Wednesday night, Ms
Mayer was at the lake with her
mate – eight-year-old Jack Russell
Rusty – when she saw the spectacular
electrical storm that sparked fires in
the Grampians.
“Two lightning bolts just went boom
into the fire plumes already burning,
so there was just no let up,” she said.
“It was hairy and as my brother
said – and we’re in our early 50s –
he’s never seen the ferocity and the
colour, the energy in the lightning bolts
coming down.”
Ms Mayer praised the work of
Country Fire Authority volunteers.
“You’ve got to take your hat off to
them haven’t you – they’re doing such
a good job,” she said.
One of her greatest concerns was
her friends and neighbours in Wartook.
“Everyone else has got houses and
that’s the worry,” Ms Mayer said.
“On Wednesday I was at the Happy
Wanderer and when I saw the light-
ning bolts there at Roses Gap Road
I thought they’ve got to be starting
some kind of fire.
“That one up the Pohlners Track
was sort of taking hold that night.”

GRASSFIRES
CAN SURGE UP TO

25
KILOMETRES
AN HOUR ON
RISKY FIRE DAYS.
Grassfires can be as dangerous as bushfires. Know what to do.
Listen to local radio and check for warnings.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO?

visit emergency.vic.gov.au
call 1800 240 667
download the FireReady app
LENDING A HAND: Almost 1000 Facebook users have ‘liked’ the story of
Horsham man Jock Uebergang helping a thirsty possum. Jock helped the
possum sip from his water bottle after a community meeting at Laharum on
Thursday night. The bottle was much emptier once the possum had quenched
its thirst. “You owe me 45 cents,” Mr Uebergang joked as the revitalised possum
sprang up a tree. The Country Fire Authority issued an emergency warning for
Laharum about an hour after the meeting. Picture: EMMA D’AGOSTINO

PAGE 6 Monday January 20 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000

STAYING: Max Green of Old Dadswells Town planned to stay and defend his property. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Mind made up
Owner stays to protect his property
On the ground
Matt Coughlan
FOR Max Green, the owner of Old
Dadswells Town accommodation, his
mind was made up to stay and defend
his property in the early afternoon on
Friday.
He was understandably distracted as
he showed the Mail-Times around his
property, detailing his plans to defend
his shed and the bar – where his guests
would usually be enjoying a beer.
Lucky break for Wartook resident
Choosing to leave
Cassandra Dalgleish
AS A bushfire approaches, many
residents make the choice to leave
for a safer location.
For Wartook resident Gill Venn,
the decision to leave her property
on Thursday and stay in Horsham
left her with one burning question:
Would there still be a house to return
home to?
Ms Venn is one of the lucky ones.
She said the bushfire went right
around her home, coming up to some
of her property but leaving her home
and shed untouched.
“Even the chooks survived,’’ she
said.
Ms Venn decided to retreat to
Horsham after attending a commu-
nity meeting at Laharum on Thursday
afternoon.
She had no idea about the fate
of her property until a neighbour
checked for her.
“It was a massive relief,’’ she said.
“I’ve kept around my house fairly
cleared because I know the dangers
of fires.
“I felt reasonably confident about
my house but wasn’t sure about my
shed.’’
Ms Venn said she had planned to
return to her property on Saturday
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
Mr Green said he would stay and
fight for as long as he could, but he
would leave when the blaze engulfed
his house.
“When the building goes up, I’m
off,” he said.
His wife, children and their dog had
already left the property.
It was not the first fire he had seen
in his 10 years as the owner of the
nostalgic mini-town on the edge of
the Northern Grampians.
“It’s crazy mate, just crazy,” he said.
SAVED: Gill Venn at her Wartook home in October. The fire came up
to her house but did not affect it. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI
afternoon but the continual threat of
fires made her reconsider.
She said she felt for people who
still did not know whether their home
had survived the Grampians fires.
“I was lucky I had someone who
could go there and see for me,’’ she
said.
“It’s been pretty frustrating not
knowing whether your house is
still there, but I understand why we
couldn’t go back.’’
Nation tunes in to the Mail-Times
THE Wimmera Mail-Times’ online fire The Mail-Times coverage included
coverage took the interest of people across regular updates on the region’s fires,
the country. pictures, videos and more.
Social media also played a big part in
Rolling coverage of the bushfires in the
the coverage, with Wimmera Mail-Times
region received more than 100,000 views. readers logging onto Facebook, Twitter and
A gallery of fire photos had more than Instagram to share their experiences.
130,000 views. Keep updated at www.mailtimes.com.au.
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Mr Green had a full dam, blocked
his gutters, filled up the buildings’
gutters and insured his collection of
vintage cars and hot rods.
He said the lack of fuel around his
property would work to his advantage,
but nothing was certain given the size
of the fire and unpredictable nature of
conditions.
VR1771186
“There’s not a lot to burn except for
these beautiful gum trees,” he said.
32 firebrace st horsham 5382 1208
“Goodness knows what this wind
change is going to bring.”
Ms Venn thanked the Wimmera
community, family and friends who
offered her support.
She also shared her gratitude to the
volunteers and fire-fighters involved
in the bushfires.
“They work in these conditions
– it’s incredible,’’ she said.
“I don’t know how they could do
that.
“I can’t believe how big this fire
was.’’
VR1421488
Monday January 20 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES PAGE 7
 THE Country Fire Authority had
eyes in the sky as fires burned in
the Grampians during the past five
days. Shown here is a selection of
the authority’s photographs.

FIRE FRONT: A plane drops its load on the Grampians fire.

REFILL: A quick refill while fighting the Wartook fire. BATTLE FRONT: Planes zero in on the fire front as it blazes through Laharum Grove.

ATTACK: A helicopter, upper centre, drops a bucket of water on a ring of fire threatening a POHLNERS TRACK: The fire burns along the top of the range in the vicinity of Pohlners Track
Laharum property. and Smiths Road.
PAGE 8 Monday January 20 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
 BIG SMOKE: Fire-fighting aircraft are dwarfed by the northern Grampians fire.

FIERY VORTEX: Extreme heat and flames create a whirlwind during the Yaapeet fire along SMOKE AND FIRE: A helicopter at close quarters with the fire front.
Goslings Road. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

RED ALERT: A plane delivers its colourful load on the northern Grampians fire on Thursday. RIM OF FIRE: Smoke darkens the sky as the fire burns out of control.
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000 Monday January 20 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES PAGE 9
 T H E W I M M E R A

Mail-Times
Overall
The Voice
newspaper
of the
excellence
Wimmera
award
since 1873
winner
PHONE 5362 0000 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22 2014 $1.50 (INC. GST)

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Halls Gap Zoo owner Yvonne Culell is ready and waiting to welcome visitors back to the popular Grampians attraction, which was unscathed in the Grampians bushfire.
Victorian opposition leader Daniel Andrews will visit Halls Gap today to talk about tourism in the area. Premier Denis Napthine visited the Wimmera yesterday. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI

Contained
By MATT COUGHLAN
and CARLY WERNER
FIRE crews have contained the
Grampians bushfire, but fires continue
to burn in the Black Range near Stawell
and in the Mallee.
Favourable conditions on Monday
helped crews contain the massive
Grampians blaze, which had burnt more
than 53,000 hectares by yesterday.
But the Department of Environment
and Primary Industries issued a watch
and act message for Stawell and the
Black Range last night as a bushfire
continued to burn about seven kilome-
tres south of Stawell.
Unexpected conditions caused the fire
to cross containment lines.
Meanwhile, crews were also working
to contain fires in the Mallee, which have
burnt more than 90,000 hectares.
Department of Environment and
Primary Industries, Country Fire
Authority and Parks Victoria fire-fighters
But fires continue to burn
used air attack and ground resources
to continue building containment lines
around the fires.
Fire-fighters in the Grampians also
had to deal with a number of explosions
in the St Helen’s Plains area while fight-
ing the Grampians blaze on Saturday.
CFA strike teams were in the area
trying to save farm houses when fire-
works and a drum containing flammable
liquid stored in a shipping container
exploded.
The CFA is working to allow residents
back into the Roses Gap and Wartook
areas.
Horsham Incident Control Centre
spokeswoman Jenny McGennisken said
residents were advised at a meeting in
Laharum yesterday that hazardous tree
assessments must be completed before
they would be allowed home. “Personal
safety is a priority – not only for resi-
dents, but also for our fire-fighters,” she
said.
The fires and extreme temperatures
have also caused water issues across
the region.
GWMWater spokesman Andrew Rose
said water issues during the fires were a
result of an unlikely set of circumstances
with large fires in both the Wimmera
and the Mallee.
“The system operated in general really
quite well under the circumstances,” he
said.
Mr Rose confirmed Pomonal ran out
of water on Friday because of a burst
main.
He said residents who decided to stay
and defend their property should always
have their own water supply. “We’ll do
whatever we can, but we’re never going
to put our staff at risk,” he said.
He said Halls Gap and Pomonal had
switched to non-potable water to ensure
the maximum availability of water if
power was lost.
Mr Rose said asset losses sustained
by GWMWater were not going to be a
significant cost and about 30 air valves
had already been replaced.
At Lake Wartook, GWMWater lost
the caretaker’s residence in the blaze.
In coming days the authority will
investigate if any other assets had been
lost.
Mr Rose said one of the main issues
for GWMWater during the fires was
working with thinly-stretched resources
as people were sent to two major fires.
“We learnt a lot from the 2006 fire –
you can always do things better,” he said.
“It was a huge resourcing issue this
time. We were very stretched – we coped
and coped well.
“It was logistically challenging.”
He said GWMWater would review its
processes to look for opportunities for
improvement when coping with high
demand and crisis situations.
“Tomorrow we’re sitting down to have
an internal debrief and examine if there
are things that we can do better,” he said.
Opposition leader Daniel Andrews
will tour fire-affected communities
today.
Premier Denis Napthine visited
Horsham, Brimpaen and Stawell on
Saturday and visited the Wimmera again
yesterday.
● For more fire coverage, see pages
4 to 7.

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You are invited To Australia’s Premier

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State Labor leader
to visit the region
VICTORIAN Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews will visit
Halls Gap and Stawell today.
Mr Andrews will visit Halls Gap Zoo at 9.30am for a
tour and to help promote tourism in the area in the wake
of the fires.
He will then travel to Stawell, where he will visit the
Stawell bushfire recovery centre in Patrick Street for a
meet and greet with residents, fire-fighters and volunteers.
For more on Mr Andrews’ visit, see the Mail-Times on
Friday.
VR1392868

DEVASTATION: Victorian Premier Denis Napthine and Horsham Mayor David Grimble tour Cr Grimble’s
Brimpaen property on Saturday after fires swept through the area. Cr Grimble’s house was unscathed but
the family lost a large amount of property and stock. Dr Napthine also visited the Horsham Incident Control
Centre on Saturday, where he commended emergency services for the way they had managed fires across
the Wimmera and Mallee. He returned to the region yesterday to visit Halls Gap. He stopped at Brambuk the
National Park and Culture Centre and also walked Halls Gap’s main street. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI

Partnership to
assist victims
By MATT COUGHLAN
A STATE and Federal Government
partnership will provide emergency
relief for bushfire-hit areas of the
Wimmera.
Bushfire Response Minister Kim
Wells said as the damage was further
assessed, people would start to receive
payments and other assistance to help
with the recovery effort.
THANKS: This sign of appreciation appeared at Dadswells Bridge on
“In the coming days we will provide
Saturday. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI
further advice on specific locations
where this assistance will be avail- The relief comes as authorities begin The Victorian Farmers Federation
able as the impact of these bushfires to count the cost of the 51,800-hectare has launched an agistment register to
becomes evident and communities fire that raged through the Grampians help farmers affected by the fires.
begin to return to their homes,” he said. National Park. President Peter Tuohey said the VFF
Mr Wells said natural disaster relief The Department of Environment had a responsibility to help.
and recovery arrangements could and Primary Industries has confirmed “The federation has set up a process
provide emergency relief, emergency the loss of 27 homes, 63 sheds and 203 where farmers can register if they can
re-establishment grants and measures kilometres of fencing. assist by taking some stock on agist-
to assist with emergency accommoda- Livestock losses have also been ment,” he said.
tion, food and clothing, the removal heavy with the department reporting Mr Tuohey said farmers could call
of debris, repairs, rebuilding and the death of 3000 sheep through the 1300 882 833 to register their offer.
replacement of essential household fire-affected areas and another 950 He said information would be
contents. sheep still missing. provided to fire-affected farmers.

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available
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Wimmera UnitingCare offer a
range of early learning services
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• Occasional care
• Kindergarten
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PAGE 4 Wednesday January 22 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES
MEMBER for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has urged Wimmera
residents to remain patient while roads are re-opened fol-
lowing bushfires that began in the region on Wednesday.
Yesterday, VicRoads listed about 15 roads that remained
closed at Laharum, Brimpaen, Dadswells Bridge and in the
Grampians National Park.
“It’s absolutely imperative VicRoads checks the roads
thoroughly to ensure they are safe to drive on,” Mr
Delahunty said.
“Last year we tragically lost two lives when a tree fell
on a vehicle after a fire.
“I know we all want it done and that people need to be
able to get through to their properties – but stick with us.
“I know they’ve got a lot of people working on it and
making it a priority.”
He said people could keep up-to-date with road closures
in the region by visiting www.vicroads.vic.gov.au.
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
 For updates, visit www.mailtimes.com.au

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DESTROYED: Laharum Grove owner Deirdre Baum surveys the damage to her 300-acre property after fire
destroyed about 90 per cent of the grove’s 11,000 olive trees. Despite the loss Mrs Baum remains positive that
the business will be back on its feet within the next two years. Picture: THEA PETRASS

Grove ravaged

VR1511788
32 firebrace st horsham 5382 1208

But neighbours save restaurant, house

By SARAH SCULLY
LAHARUM Grove’s owners Deirdre
and Richard Baum hope their business
will be back on its feet within two
years after almost all of the grove’s
11,000 olive trees were ravaged by
bushfire on Thursday.
Mrs Baum said the couple would
know more about the fire’s long-term
effects following an assessment on the
property today.
Despite the devastation, the Baums
consider themselves lucky.
“We’re middle of the road,” Mrs
Baum said.
“The fire wiped out our whole
grove, but our house and restaurant
were saved.”
Mrs Baum said Laharum Grove
would not be able to harvest this year.
“Apparently there were two fires
that went through the grove – one was
slower and the other went through
very, very fast,” she said.
“Quite a few trees are singed and
olives have been burnt, but they should
be fine – hopefully even next year.
“There were other trees that were
burnt right down that will take longer,
but most of the trees are still standing
and they will recover.
“Fingers crossed we will be fine in
one to two years.”
Uniting Care launches fire appeal
WIMMERA residents can donate
money to directly benefit victims of
the region’s bushfires, which have
burnt more than 143,000 hectares
since Wednesday.
The 2014 Wimmera Uniting Care
Bushfire Appeal will support people
who lost their houses, belongings
and livelihoods in fires across the
Grampians, Wimmera and Mallee.
Money will be used to provide a
range of services for victims, as well
as products and assistance to rebuild
their lives.
The Baums were away on holiday
when fires broke out in the Grampians
National Park on Wednesday night,
sparked by lightning strikes.
Mrs Baum said community
members would continue to support
each other through the recovery phase.
“We’ve had so much support
THE MEAT MARKET
“It was nice not to be there, but it
was also very hard,” Mrs Baum said.
already, it’s quite overwhelming
really,” she said. FOR SUPER SAVINGS
ON QUALITY MEATS
“We were getting reports from “We would like to give a huge thank
people, but because we were not there you to everyone who helped us out,
we couldn’t do anything to help our
neighbours.”
Mrs Baum praised her neighbours
and of course to all of the fire-fighters
and volunteers who put themselves
in danger and worked so hard to save
for easy summer meals
for the efforts they put in during the everyone else.”
bushfires. Mount Zero Olives, about eight Lamb
“We live in an amazing community,” kilometres north of Laharum Grove, Oysterblade
forequarter
she said. fared much better. steak
“We had someone come and grab Owner Neil Seymour said he was BBQ chops
our passports and birth certificates
and then someone came at the last
dismayed by his neighbours’ plight.
“That’s a very, very sad story. I’m
6.99 kg 6.99 kg
minute and grabbed mementos off sorry to hear that,” he said.
Min 1kg BBQ Min 1kg
steak plain or
the sideboard. “There’s a small part of our farm Chicken BBQ
“One of our neighbours built a where the trees were singed, but there marinated
steaks plain or
6.99 kg
fire-break around the house – that’s was no infrastructure damage.
what saved it. If not for that, the house “We were very fortunate.”
wouldn’t still be standing. Mr Seymour was present when fire Min 1kg marinated
“We were so lucky.”
The Baums are waiting for roads
struck his property.
“We watched as it raced up under 9.99 kg
to be re-opened so they can start the trees,” he said. “It was a pretty Lamb
operating their restaurant. frightening experience. The three
“We’ve had the grove for eight years people who were with me were pretty racks Sliced cooked
corned beef
16.99 kg
and we opened our restaurant three traumatised by it all.”
months ago,” she said.
“We have power now, so the only
Mr Seymour said Mount Zero
would return to business as usual, with
10.99 kg
thing stopping us from operating is its cafe operating between tomorrow Sliced roast beef
access to the place.” and Sunday. 16.99 kg
PICKED MEATS Sliced roast
chicken
FOR HOT’N’COLD
SUMMER MEALS
20.99 kg
Cabana
empathy and grief throughout the toiletries, furniture, vouchers for food
fires via social media. and other items, linen, transport and Corned silverside chubs
“It has been wonderful to see all
of the well wishes and messages of
clean-up activities. Corned brisket 5.99 Kg
“Basically we will assist however Rolled pickled pork
support,” he said. we can to get their day-to-day lives
“People were offering complete back on track.”
Picked Ox tongue
strangers a bed to sleep in or
Mr Elvish said donations could
assistance with pets and farm animals.
be made at Wimmera Uniting Care’s
“Some people who lost their homes
Baillie Street office, by calling 5362
were offered donations of school
4000 or by visiting www.wuc.org.au.
uniforms, books, bags and anything
else they might require to get their
children back to school.”
He said donations could also be
made at any Bendigo Bank branch TRADING HOURS
across the state and at Horsham Civic
Mr Elvish said donations were
Centre. Monday to Thursday 8am - 5:45pm
VR1817369

fully tax deductible.

Wimmera Uniting Care has
donated $5000 from the Wimmera
Community Fund to kick-start the
“This fund will ensure that
everyone affected by the bushfires has
access to the assistance they need,”
“This is an opportunity to really
make a difference to people’s lives
Friday 8am - 6pm • Saturday 9am - 12:30pm
at a time when they need it most,”

appeal.
Chief executive Barrie Elvish
said there was a huge outpouring of
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
he said.
“This could include temporary
accommodation, household items,
5382 2203
he said. “I would encourage the 36 PYNSENT STREET
community to give whatever they can HORSHAM
– no matter how much that may be.”
Wednesday January 22 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES PAGE 5
AT EASE: Halls Gap Zoo owners Greg and Yvonne Culell.
AUSTRALIA DAY
C E L E B R AT E
Y O U R WAY
Australia Day means something different to everyone, and
it’s important you do what’s right for you. So on January 26,
reflect on what you love about being Australian.
australiaday.org.au #australiaday
PAGE 6 Wednesday January 22 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES
Pictures: SAMANTHA CAMARRI BACK TO NORMAL: A deer at Halls Gap Zoo.
Bigger picture
Support heartens zoo owners
By MATT COUGHLAN
HALLS Gap Zoo owners Greg and
Yvonne Culell have urged people to
support the Halls Gap and Grampians
tourism industries in the wake of
devastating bushfires.
The zoo remained unscathed by the
fires as Mr and Mrs Culell put their
fire plan into action.
But Mr Culell said he was disap-
pointed by the way the zoo’s fire plans
were portayed by television media.
With the zoo’s fire plans in full
swing on Friday, Mr Culell said he
hesitantly agreed to spend an hour
showing television crews through the
zoo explaining how he planned to save
160 species of animals.
Nine News reported on Friday: “It’s
a sad situation for the Halls Gap Zoo.
Hundreds of animals will have to be
left behind, with the keeper planning
on driving the most endangered spe-
cies into the dam.”
But the report failed to paint the
full picture.
Mr Culell said he had detailed the
zoo’s extensive fire plans to television
crews.
“We spent an hour with them
explaining about fire tracks, watering
SAFE AND SOUND: A giraffe at
Halls Gap Zoo takes a bite out of
the greenery on Sunday.
systems, cooling systems and genera-
tors down at the dam,” he said.
“The question was asked: ‘In the
worst case scenario what are you going
do?’ – I said worst case scenario we
were going to take the most endan-
gered animals into the dam.
“Unfortunately that was shown as
the only plan we had.”
As a result, many people incorrectly
thought Mr and Mrs Culell had decided
to abandon animals based on their
level of endangerment – a scenario
that only would have eventuated if a
serious threat to human life occurred.
“We actually copped hate emails,
that’s the trouble with half a message
getting out,” he said.
“It was very hurtful.”
To set the record straight Mr
Culell turned to Facebook and was
overwhelmed by the response with
more than 515,000 people visiting
the zoo’s page and more than 23,000
‘likes’ on the post detailing what
happened on Friday.
He said the outpouring of support
was the most heartening thing about
the whole episode.
“We were a bit stunned by it all,”
he said.
“I’m not a hero, I’m just an average
sort of a bloke.”
Mr Culell insisted he had no interest
in ‘media bashing’ and he understood
television reporters had a job to do,
but wanted the entire truth to be told.
With the zoo and its inhabitants
spared by the fire, Mr Culell paid
tribute to the work of CFA fire-fighters,
who kept the blaze at bay.
“We cannot thank the CFA and
the Department of Environment
and Primary Industries fire-fighters
enough,” he said.
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000

AFTER: Rosebrook homestead in flames last week.
Fire takes historic Rosebrook
THE historic Rosebrook homestead at
Wartook was one of the dozens of properties
destroyed in the Grampians fires.
The homestead had been home to seven
generations of the Carter family since 1858.
The family built the homestead on the
banks of Mackenzie Creek, just downstream
from the site of the old Wartook School and
the old Wartook Post Office.
Charles Carter arrived in the Wimmera
in 1842, six years after explorer Major
Mitchell.
In 1845, Carter set off south towards the
coast but became bogged at Brim Springs
on the western edge of the Grampians.
The family built a cabin at Brim Springs
and prospered, and by 1860 owned Moora
Moora in the Victoria Valley, Rosebrook at
what is now the Wartook Valley and Glenisla
near the present Rocklands Reservoir.
The pictures from The Age show the
homestead in its prime and as the Grampians
fire took hold last week. BEFORE: Rosebrook homestead as it was.
‘She was
prepared’
By MATT COUGHLAN
WHEN reports of the death of a woman
at Roses Gap started to emerge on Friday,
authorities used it as a warning to others
to leave early.
“This should be a very, very salient lesson
to everybody that when you’re told to leave,
when you’re told that there is a huge risk
to your life and property, then your life is
worth saving by leaving early,” Premier
Denis Napthine said at a press conference
on Friday.
But one of the woman’s closest friends,
who spoke to the Mail-Times anonymously,
said any suggestion her friend Barb
Pleasance had died as a direct result of fire
had been premature.
“I felt that was being used as a scare-
tactic because they knew nothing about the
woman,” she said.
“I was very upset because they didn’t
know what the cause of death was.”
A coroner’s report is being compiled to
determine the cause of death, but authorities
have subsequently said it was a result of a
medical issue.
Red balloons to say thanks
WIMMERA residents will see red as
people show their appreciation for the
region’s emergency services.
The Wimmera will participate in
Red Balloon Week, in which people
are encouraged to fly red balloons from
fences, letterboxes, businesses or trees,
or tie red ribbons to their car aerials in a
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
Got a news tip?
Send story ideas or photos to newsdesk@mailtimes.com.au or call 5362 0000
Pictures: CONTRIBUTED
Mrs Pleasance was highly-experienced in
fighting fires, joining the North Warrandyte
CFA in the 1960s.
Her house was customised to survive
fire with an inner core made from large
slabs of Mt Gambier stone along with a
fully-equipped underground house – ‘Barb’s
Burrow’.
“She meticulously planned every detail
of how she would approach the fire – that’s
why I was very upset with what was stated,”
the woman said.
“I spoke to her at 11.30pm on Thursday
– she was fully prepared.
“I tried to ring her at 3.30am on Friday
and there was no answer.”
The woman said her friend of more
than 40 years had a strong dedication to
the environment.
“She was passionate, she came from
England in the 1960s and was in love with
the Australian bush. All her life she worked
towards providing a sanctuary for flora and
fauna,” she said.
“She was highly-intelligent.
“This was not some silly woman who did
not know what she was doing.”
show of support for emergency volunteers
and workers.
A flyer released on the Grampians
Community Fire Support Facebook page
encourages people to participate between
Saturday and Friday next week.
ZO440091
● Participating in Red Balloon Week?
Send your photos to newsdesk@mail-
times.com.au.
Wednesday January 22 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES PAGE 7
 For updates, visit
www.mailtimes.com.au

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LAKE OF FIRE: Photographer Lynton Brown took this amazing image from Western Beach Road at Lake Albacutya, near Rainbow.
Pictures: LYNTON BROWN LANDSCAPES

Still burning
Big Mallee fires continue to rage
By CASSANDRA DALGLEISH
FIVE bushfires continue to burn in
the Mallee.
A fire at Albacutya is still going,

Australia
while f ires at Danyo Reference
Area, Rocket Lake, Red Bluff and
Bronzewing Flora and Fauna Reserve

Day
have been contained but not controlled.
Mildura Incident Control Centre
media officer John Painter said the
Albacutya fire ran from the northern
end of Wyperfeld National Park to the
$ southern end of Lake Albacutya Park.
12 Cider Jugs He said the five fires had burnt
about 100,000 hectares.
BBQ He believed no homes had been lost.
Incident controller Bob Brinkman
Gold coin donation to Cancer Council
said fire-fighters were using infra-red
cameras as they worked to secure the
Triple J fires before hot and gusty weather
early next week.
Hottest 100 Countdown The cameras were being used on
the ground and attached to aircraft to
help identify hotspots.
Just like in previous years, “The forward-looking infra-red
camera is attached to a light heli-
join us for all the fun and games! copter, which then flies over the fire
12PM-Late ground and takes photos and the GPS
co-ordinates of any hotspots such as
smouldering logs,’’ Mr Brinkman said.
“These photos and co-ordinates are
83 Wilson St Horsham • 5382 1057 transmitted to our ground crews, who
VR1820182 then black out the hotspots.
RED HOT: The view from Albacutya Road as the Mallee fire rages.
“We’re dealing with more than
100,000 hectares of fire ground in the
lines, along with identifying and
blacking out hotspots, in the next
Mallee, some of it in quite difficult ter- few days so we’re in the best possible
rain, so this technology is helping our position when the hot weather hits us
fire-fighters immensely and assisting
us to place our resources where they
on Tuesday.’’
Mr Brinkman urged people to make
will be most effective.’’
Mr Brinkman said crews were also
sure they had their bushfire survival
plan ready to go as bad fire weather
using thermal imaging cameras on the
approached.
ground to search for hotspots.
He said crews were monitoring and “We really need the community to
patrolling more than 450 kilometres
of control lines.
be monitoring conditions and getting
bushfire information from the many
“The last thing we want to see is
fires flaring up again during next
sources available because changing
weather conditions next week do
week’s hot conditions and spreading create the possibility that some of
outside control lines,’’ he said. the Mallee fires might breach control
“Fire-fighters will be working hard lines despite fire-fighters’ best efforts,’’
to construct and strengthen control he said.

SAVE $
Tiles Vinyl Carpet Timber
35 Wilson Street, Horsham.
VR1816216

Phone: (03) 5382 1975

PAGE 4 Friday January 24 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
 www.mailtimes.com.au

SAVED: The
Todman family
24A Darlot Street, Horsham home was
03 5382 3460 or toll free 1800 009 533 spared by the
www.meritumfg.com.au Grampians
fire which
All Ords Exchange Rates came to the
All Ords 23 Jan
5335
Currency Value Change fence. Picture:
AUD / USD 0.880155 -0.57 CONTRIBUTED
5310
AUD / NZD 1.063115 -0.21
5285 AUD / JPY (yen) 91.881 -0.71
AUD / GBP 0.5312 -0.53
5260
10 11 12 1 2 3 4 AUD / EUR 0.64965 -0.57
Market Indices Resources

House saved
Index Value Change Commodity Value Change
All Ordinaries 5,270.00 -61.30 Silver US$/oz 19.76 -0.11
ASX SPI 200 5,212.00 -68.00 Gold US$/oz 1,236.30 -5.50
Dow Jones 16,373.34 -41.10 Platinum US$/oz 1,458.40 +4.90
FTSE-100
Nikkei 225
S & P 500
6,826.33
15,799.64
1,844.86
-7.93
-21.32
+1.06
WTI Oil US$/bl
Aluminium US$/t 1,747.00
Copper US$/t
96.75

7,327.00
+1.78
+4.50
-5.00
Bad news, then the good news
By MATT COUGHLAN Environment and Primary Industries “It turned out to be not such a bad
Hang Seng 23,534.30 -166.52 Lead US$/t 2,182.00 +5.50
so we were sure of the information.” idea because the phone actually rang.”
NASDAQ 3,921.27 -10.28 Zinc US$/t 2,075.00 +5.50 MEMBERS of the Todman family Having dealt with the gravity of the With that glimmer of hope the
Shares Shares were sure they had lost their decision to leave and having saved Todmans endured a sleepless night,
Wonwondah Road home as the fire some of their belongings, the family clinging to the theory that if fire had
Stock Value Change Stock Value Change
tore through Dadswells Bridge on assembled to work through their burnt the house, a phone line would
AMP Limited 4.37 -0.09 Incitec Pivot 2.87 -0.04 Friday night. not have survived.
perceived loss.
ANZ Bank 30.865 -0.535 National Bank 34 -0.29 Rachael Todman, one of six sib- On Saturday morning it was
“We were in disbelief – absolutely
Aurizon 5.045 0.035 Newcrest Mining 9.15 -0.19 lings, said the family had received a gutted,” Ms Todman said. confirmed that the house was still
phone call as the fire took hold. standing. The CFA managed to save
Bendigo Bank 11.6 -0.13 QBE Insurance 11.71 -0.01 It was an act of sheer hope that it while everything around it burnt.
BHP Billiton 37.03 -0.6 Rio Tinto 64.57 -0.72 “Friday at 9pm, after Mum and Dad yielded the first positive signs of the
Ms Todman expressed the family’s
had evacuated, they received a call night.
CBA 75.05 -0.86 Telstra 5.185 -0.035 deep gratitude for the work of CFA
from my brother Aaron to say the fire “Dylan, my brother, decided to volunteers and everyone who had
CSL Limited 70.13 -0.01 Westpac 31.42 -0.53 had gone through the property and it ring Mum and Dad’s house phone,” helped in the clean-up effort.
Fortescue 5.235 -0.115 Wesfarmers 43.05 -0.34 was too hot for the CFA to get in there she said. She made special mention of those
GrainCorp 8.04 -0.01 Woolworths 33.83 -0.37 to save it,” she said. “We joked when he suggested it – is who were not as lucky and sent the
Iluka 8.73 -0.08 Woodside 37.94 -0.21 “Aaron’s wife Lauren works in the a fire-fighter going to answer the phone family’s wishes to those who lost
As at 3.00pm fire department of the Department of and tell us what’s going on? property in the fire.

GONE: The historic Rosebrook woolshed, classified by the National Trust.

Picture: MAIL-TIMES ARCHIVES

Rosebrook a huge
loss for Carter family
HORSHAM’S Donald Carter has described
the destruction of the historic Rosebrook
homestead at Wartook as a huge loss for
his family and the Wimmera.
The homestead and National Trust-
classified woolshed were gutted by the
Grampians fire last week.
Mr Carter said Phillip Rose built the
homestead in about 1843.
The Carter family bought it from Mr
Rose in 1853.
Mr Carter grew up in the homestead.
“I was the fifth-generation and lived there
between 1939 and 1964,” he said.
He said seventh-generation Carters Jim
and Jenny Carter now owned the property.
Mr Carter said in the mid-1950s, his
father completely renovated the property.
PAGE 6 Friday January 24 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES
“It originally had three gables, all with
hips and valleys in between and they used
to leak like sieves,” he said.
“The place had a lucky let-off in 1945 – it
got very close to being burnt down then.”
Mr Carter said the homestead contained
many historical items, including a series
of oil paintings of the Carter generations.
“The woolshed hadn’t been used for
many years and it was destroyed,” he said.
“The original old carriage shed and stable
was on the driveway on the way in and it
had been converted into a machinery shed
and other things and it’s all gone.
“There were two pine tree driveways and
I’m not sure if they’ll survive.
“It’s a big loss, huge.”
Carly Werner
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000
 VR1813074
MPs call for support
Grampians open and ready for tourists to return
By MATT COUGHLAN
POLITICIANS have urged people
to visit the Grampians to support
fire-ravaged communities.
Member for Lowan Hugh
Delahunty said Dadswells Bridge,
Dunkeld, Halls Gap and Pomonal
were all open to visitors including
the Grampians Tourist Road from
Halls Gap to Dunkeld.
“I’m encouraging people across
western Victoria to think about the
Grampians and get in there and
support them,” he said.
“I’m encouraging not only west-
ern Victorians, but all Victorians
to come to the Grampians.
“I’m encouraging people to get
up there and spend a dollar.”
While visiting the bushfire relief
centre in Stawell on Wednesday,
state Opposition leader Daniel
Andrews said he hoped no-one
would try to score political points
in the wake of the natural disaster.
“It terms of specific support, I
don’t think this needs to be part
of the political contest,” he said.
“It’s about us doing our part to
send a message to the Victorian
community that the Grampians MEETING: Northern Grampians Shire Council recovery officer Melissa Mair, Victorian opposition leader Daniel Andrews, Grampians
is open for business. Community Health chief executive Jill Miller and Shadow Police and Emergency Services Minister Wade Noonan look at fire maps at

“The Grampians is a spectacu-
lar, marvellous place to come and
visit and without those tourism
dollars, without those visitors, it
is going to struggle at a time that’s
already very tough.
wer, morre on
the Stawell fire relief centre on Wednesday during Mr Andrews’ visit to the region. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI
“If people can make an extra great help.’’ Mr Andrews also “I fed the meerkats and I’m While much of the Grampians
effort to squeeze this into their visited the Halls Gap Zoo and going to be back with my three has reopened, Mr Delahunty
calendar, whether it is for a day little kids and I’ll try to be back reminded people to remain cau-
or a weekend or longer, any time said he would be returning with before the weather turns at the end tious when travelling and observe
during 2014, it is going to be a his family soon. of summer,” he said. the remaining road closures.

KEEP COOL

esss on pow
THIS SUMMER

nd le
Spen
VISITING: Victorian Premier Denis Napthine tours David
Grimble’s property after the Brimpaen-Laharum fire.

Mayor thanks
Premier for visit
NORTHERN Grampians Mayor Kevin Erwin has thanked
Victorian Premier Denis Napthine for his support for Halls
Gap business owners and residents days after fires broke
out in the Grampians National Park.
Dr Napthine visited the town on Tuesday where he met
tourism operators and council representatives.
Cr Erwin said council was grateful the Premier took time
• Cool your home by up to 15OC
to tour Halls Gap, which was once again welcoming visitors. • Save on air-conditioning bills
“Because of the diligent work of our emergency services,
Halls Gap wasn’t directly impacted by the fires, but we
• Offer UV protection to your
appreciate the economic impacts it has had on the business furnishings & carpets
and tourism industry,” he said.
“With the town fully back up and running and sections
• Protect and add value to your home
of the national park now reopened, the Premier’s visit has • Entertain all year round
given the community a real boost.
• All curtains manufactured in - store

Horsham
“Halls Gap remains the heart of the Grampians and that
heart is still beating loud and strong.
“As a council, we appreciate the Premier’s commitment to
encouraging visitors back to the Grampians and supporting
our tourism businesses.”
During his visit to Halls Gap, Dr Napthine stopped in at
VR1820775

Grampians Adventure Golf-MOCO Gallery, Brambuk – The

National Park and Cultural Centre, the Halls Gap Visitor
Information Centre and stores along Stony Creek.
16B Darlot Street | Tel: 5381 1375
HOME DELIVERY phone 5362 0000 Friday January 24 2014 THE MAIL-TIMES PAGE 7