Victorian Fires

[kincella]

in the old days..my dad used to get into a boat and herd them to safer ground...never seen a cow swim but horses can be taught.....
ok so the answer is cows can swim..they dont like to..but will if in danger
would be very difficult to helicopter them out...need to get the harness on...
so herding in a boat is my best guess....much like on a bike on the ground
I googled the question
here is a photo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91944832@N00/56906671/

 

[daisy]

That's an amazing photo.
We've gone way off topic here. Trying to relate it back I can think of two themes. One is that of fatalism. You live up here you learn to live with the bad as well as the good. The other is preparedness. I'm not sure about floods up in the gulf but in some coastal towns at least we were well warned and those that lost less were those who had prepared the most.

 

[Calliope]

Item in SMH

Links to Sokaluk's profiles on MySpace and MyYearBook were widely circulated.
"Ya know, I would go to jail myself if I could get my hands on this creep, let me hurt him, burn him, put a bullet and knife in every orrifice of his body," wrote one poster.

"tie the bastard to a post and put a ring of fire around him....let the fire make its way to him and make him suffer like the other 100's of people had to indure," wrote another.

"yes thank christ his address was given out, just in case the police din't catch him in time, i had a small chance to go and smash the c---- knee caps in with a metal pipe," wrote another.

I think these sick people should be under surveillance as well as the arsonists.

 

[MrBurns]

Item in SMH


I think these sick people should be under surveillance as well as the arsonists.

I think I recognise the writing style from a couple of ex posters in here

 

[Prospector]

Hmm, if I was a lawyer defending the undefendable, I might think that info on the web was helpful so that when it came to a court case claim my client is unable to secure a fair trial?

 

[Calliope]

I think I recognise the writing style from a couple of ex posters in here

You will notice that a common thread is their illiteracy.

 

[Smurf1976]

Sorry to have upset you. I know it is a heresy to suggest a Greenie could ever get it wrong. But I also thought that the State and Local Authorities who pander to the Greens must assume the greater blame. After all I assumed they knew better. I thought they would be well aware of the recommendations of the previous fire enquiries.

However as a remote observer of this tragedy my opinions obviously can't carry the same weight as a Tasmanian with more fire and wilderness experience.

So maybe I am wrong.

No, no no!

I meant the Greens have been wrong, not that what you are saying is wrong.

The original comment just got me thinking back to the past quarter century of Green politics and their oft-repeated claim to have "been proven right". They've been right about some things yes, but clearly wrong on a lot of others as have all politicians.

I've spent quite a bit of my life near the front line of environmental issues. And the one thing that's consistent is that green activists use emotion almost exclusively, a tactic that worked consistently until their opponents worked out how to play the game. Now it's all emotion and not a fact to be found anywhere amongst the debate.

The same tactics are being used in relation to the fire issue. Jump up and down screaming about anyone who wants to clear the hazards before there's a fire. It might spoil the scenery, make some smoke and maybe kill a few animals.

Then when we've got vast areas destroyed, the environment devastated, human and animal deaths everywhere, they have the nerve to blame it all on climate change and say we'd better get used to it. That's the claim they've actually made in relation to these fires.

It's a fire version of the same old industry tactic we've seen in Tas for years. Claim some major industry is about to close. Then mount a major campaign to ensure there isn't enough power, water, land, raw materials or whatever else it needs to keep going. Then claim to have been proven right when it downsizes or closes.

In short, predict that something bad is going to happen, do everything possible to make sure it does, and then claim to have been proven correct in your prediction. That's the consistent pattern here. It's bad enough when you're throwing people out of work, but it's far worse when we've got entire towns burning to the ground.

I'm not anti-environment. Not at all. I've been on about the benefits of renewable energy due to the CO2 issue for a couple of decades now and I've been recycling just as long. And the oil / CO2 issue is the only reason I've never owned any car bigger than 4 cyl. But I've seen just about all of it and I'm truly fed up with the constant diversion of attention and waffling about nonsense that is green and indeed all politics.

Clear the fire hazards. Get the politicians' hands off fire safety and put someone who knows what they're doing in charge and let them get on with it. I'm sure there will be good opportunities this Winter and Spring for some proper fuel reduction burning across SA, Vic, NSW and Tas that will reduce risks the following Summer. Just get on with it and stop making excuses, forming committies and so on. Just do it.

 

[Calliope]

Smurf

I owe you an apology. I have always admired your common sense approach to the climate change debate and I have no excuse for misreading your stance on this issue. I have made the error, which I have criticised in others, of jumping to conclusions before getting full informed.

 

[profit off it]

Smurf

I owe you an apology. I have always admired your common sense approach to the climate change debate and I have no excuse for misreading your stance on this issue. I have made the error, which I have criticised in others, of jumping to conclusions before getting full informed.

Aaaww... shucks... now you two just kiss and make up, y'hear?

 

[Calliope]

Aaaww... shucks... now you two just kiss and make up, y'hear?

This guy is a real comedy act.

 

[Julia]

a guy from over the road in sth yarra..sent a helicopter up that sat and rescued family in the middle of the fires...I would do the same for my family if they were in danger and could not get out...
so why not the pollies go in..
just saw cattle with water above their bellies in FNQ
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Saw the same, kincella. Heartbreaking. And much of the cattle had been moved to higher ground. Then the water just rose further. Tens of thousands have been lost. This seems even more sad when the loss is referred to just in terms of lost revenue for the farmers. Yes, I know that's what cattle farming is all about. I still feel for the animals.

 

[Julia]

btw notice NSw has declared their flood areas a disaster...but not QLD ???
where is anna bligh

Where is Anna Bligh? She's busy preparing her election campaign, notably having a MelbourneIT company prepare her new website.
Don't we have a capable IT company here in Qld, Anna?

But no doubt she's going to be whipping up north on the government jet to garner votes in the next weeks. Probably saving up the assistance that is so much needed now so she can be seen to be loving and giving during the campaign.

 

[Calliope]

But no doubt she's going to be whipping up north on the government jet to garner votes in the next weeks. Probably saving up the assistance that is so much needed now so she can be seen to be loving and giving during the campaign.

I can't wait to see Anna in her hard hat and high heels minus the toothy grin giving comfort to the flood victims. But our Northeners can spot a phony a mile off. They have more faith in Bob Katter who understands their problems.

 

[daisy]

More than half of Qld to get flood aid

More than 56 per cent of Queensland - an area almost the size of South Australia - is now eligible for disaster relief funds after recent monsoonal weather.

Thirty Queensland communities have been declared disaster zones, with the damage bill estimated at more than $60 million.

Aurukun, Charters Towers, Hopevale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Mornington, Northern Peninsula and Pormpuraaw are the latest communities to be given access to the joint state and federal disaster relief program.

Queensland's Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the total damage bill across the state, including an estimated $9.6 million worth of damage to public infrastructure, was $62.5 million.

Eight rivers - the Diamantina, Georgina, Nicholson, Gregory, Cloncurry, Flinders, and Norman, and Eyre Creek - remain in flood after further heavy falls on Monday night around Urandangi (61mm) and Camooweal (58mm).

Floods have cut major roads into the state's north-west for more than a week and the communities of Normanton and Karumba are expected to be isolated for at least another six weeks.

About 8,000kg of dry food and medications and 3,000kg of perishable food were flown to Normanton on Tuesday.

Karumba will receive supplies by barge on January 27, and goods will be shipped to Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria by Sunday.

The Richmond Shire Council is also organising food drops to isolated properties over the next two days.

It could be eight weeks before Bedourie, in south-west Queensland, is accessible by road.

Mr Roberts said personal hardship grants of $165 per person and up to $765 per family were available for directly affected residents.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1005592/More-than-half-of-Qld-to-get-flood-aid
This date 20 jan.

 

[daisy]

Also this

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25051665-952,00.html
Feb 13

TWO-thirds of Queensland has been disaster-declared with a virtual inland sea covering a million square kilometres - the size of South Australia.

Seven people are dead, most washed away in raging torrents, hundreds are homeless and thousands have lost all of their possessions in the biggest flooding event in three decades.

Flood refugee Katie Price, a mother of seven, has no home and nowhere to go.

She is one of thousands of flood-affected north Queenslanders counting the cost as receding floodwaters expose an estimated state-wide $300 million damage bill.

"It has been a living nightmare," said Ms Price, 29, whose young family are the last remaining flood refugees sleeping on the gymnasium floor in hardest-hit Ingham.

"There was so much water my roof collapsed," Ms Price said.

"We had nowhere to go because our little township was cut off. All we could do was sit in the flooded house for 10 days watching water pour out the light sockets."

Her story is familiar to the 12,000 flood-weary residents in the Ingham district where rotting piles of couches, whitegoods and clothing line the streets.

"The stench of the flood mud is gut-wrenching. It is everywhere," said Halifax father-of-four Tony Lewis.

"We have all got cabin fever from being stuck in the house unable to move for two weeks," he said.

Unsung hero Frank Demarco said his fishing village of Taylors Beach was cut off for 10 days until he was able to co-ordinate helicopter resupply to the 200, mostly elderly, residents.

"We were the forgotten town," Mr Demarco said.

"It was a schmozzle. There need to be some lessons learnt in how to manage disasters. We had helicopters landing to deliver one package of pills, but no bread or fresh supplies."

Ingham Mayor Pino Giandomenico said 3000 homes were flood-affected, 50 had metre-deep water inside the house and, at its peak, 53 men women and children were sheltering in the refugee centre.

He said the true Aussie spirit was evident as some Ingham flood victims donated their $1000 federal assistance payout to the bushfire appeal.

"Give me a flood anytime. We have the sun out and we feel like a weight is off our shoulders," Cr Giandomenico said.

Receding floodwaters have revealed the shattered jigsaw puzzle of the north's road network.

Highways are flooded with a convoy of trucks delivering hundreds of tonnes of fresh produce to empty shelves in Cairns, Innisfail and Port Douglas.

Towns in central Queensland such as Muttaburra near Longreach have joined those in the Gulf and Cape York as cut off by floodwaters in the aftermath of ex-tropical cyclone Ellie.

The monsoonal low, related to that weather event alone, has dumped an average 229mm across Queensland.

The highest rainfall for the month of January was Paluma, near Townsville, with 1631mm of rain, Tully with 1382.6mm and Babinda with 1370mm.

Food drops are continuing by air and barge to Normanton, Croydon and other isolated communities in the Gulf that expect to be cut off by road for at least another six weeks.

Karumba in the Gulf is surrounded by water but there is very little to drink because floods have breached the pipe that supplies the Gulf town's 600 residents.

Pending the arrival of a portable water treatment plant, the town has three to six days of water in storage.

Carpentaria Shire Council chief executive Mark Kelleher said he expected the Defence Department to agree to the State Government's request for the portable treatment plant used by troops.

The the treatment plant would be flown to Normanton and sent by barge to Karumba which had been cut off for five weeks and would remain so for up to another six weeks.

Water is not the only thing in short supply in Gulf towns. Beer sales are being restricted in Normanton's three pubs where there are no takeaway sales.

 

[daisy]

Karumba in the Gulf is surrounded by water but there is very little to drink because floods have breached the pipe that supplies the Gulf town's 600 residents.

Pending the arrival of a portable water treatment plant, the town has three to six days of water in storage.

Carpentaria Shire Council chief executive Mark Kelleher said he expected the Defence Department to agree to the State Government's request for the portable treatment plant used by troops.

The the treatment plant would be flown to Normanton and sent by barge to Karumba which had been cut off for five weeks and would remain so for up to another six weeks.

This pipe could not be fixed because nobody could access it because of crocodiles. Always a problem up north, but they are really free ranging at the moment.

 

[daisy]

Talk is that in all probability we are to expect another cyclone forming off the NE coast within the next three weeks.
These kinds of long forecast predictions are not uncommon up here.
Most of the time not much happens. Usually just means more rain.
Back to the boy who cried wolf.

 

[daisy]

Thanks Kincella,
In the last week I haven't been paying as much attention to the news because as you say media frenzy has all got a bit too much for me.

I think what has been happening is that because Qld is such a big and varied state environmentally and climatically the state hasn't been declared a disaster area just certain regions. I am almost certain that there is some gov't money e.g. for Ingham.

The way the pollies seem to like to do it up here is make a grand visit to a disaster area and then deliver largesse by personally declaring it to be one.

So usually an area will be in trouble for a while until there is easy access for the pollie to get into it. Usually various volunteer organisations will have already arrived if they can get in and got people comfortable if they can. Gulf country is dreadfully remote and I'm not sure whether this is applicable but a small airline which I think used to service these areas has just recently gone into administration.

I will bet ten to one that as soon as this area is easily accessible one or another figurehead will make a royal visit to this area and make the appropriate announcement and deliver the appropriate largesse.

So it seems I was way wrong. As I said I haven't been keeping up with the news much lately. I rarely buy the Townsville Bulletin because it's very parochial (spelling?). Usually buy The Australian and of course all coverage is on Victoria. Did a bit of checking this morning because I knew people were donating their assistance money to Victoria. Sorry for misleading everyone.

 

[daisy]

But there will still be photo opportunities galore.
There was a cracker last week of Quentin Bryce jumping a puddle in Ingam.
She also apparantly engaged in conversation with with some of the locals while they were clearing the mud and rotten furniture from their houses.
There she was, all dressed in white, looking like some kind of stick insect,
while residents were sweating and covered in mud and muck from their clean-up.
Not very clever Quentin.

 

[Calliope]

But there will still be photo opportunities galore.
There was a cracker last week of Quentin Bryce jumping a puddle in Ingam.
She also apparantly engaged in conversation with with some of the locals while they were clearing the mud and rotten furniture from their houses.
There she was, all dressed in white, looking like some kind of stick insect,
while residents were sweating and covered in mud and muck from their clean-up.
Not very clever Quentin.

You got that right. I well remember QB touring the WW1 battlefields in France last year dressed in an immaculately tailored (taxpayer funded) black mourning suit with matching black hat and bag and large entourage. She was also wearing the suitable mourning face and saying the scripted suitable things.

These junkets cost a lot of money. Are we getting the value for our buck from a politically appointed GG. She and MS Reine are buddies from way back.

On the other hand it could be a deliberate ploy to demean the office of GG in the republican cause. Maybe very clever.