Our Darkest Day
photo from www.theage.com.au
她风景如画，幽静闲逸，她让你心悦神怡。
她是Marysville 小镇，约有500名居民。离墨尔本只一小时车程, 常被视为度假和度蜜月的好地方。
我去过两，三次。一路上，两旁青绿高大的树林飘送出丝丝草香。她镇上的主街不长，有间游客咨询所，有一，两间小型杂货店，好像也有间邮局。 林木间，你偶尔可见到清幽的度假屋。当地人和蔼可亲。
可是，在2月7日，她被无情的大火彻彻底底地烧毁了….整个小镇只剩下十多间房屋….Marysville, 这个名字，现在只是灰黑一片，人间炼狱。不只她，还有很多很多漂亮小镇，美丽家园都被烧毁了。更可悲的是，很多珍贵生命和家人朋友都离去了….卖给我冰淇淋的杂货店老板还在吗？给我详细指示的游客咨询所自愿者还在吗？我不敢想…
在墨尔本住了十多年，一直视她为第二个家。现在远在他乡，看着那么多家园崩溃，真的无法想像当地人会多悲哀．．．
只想在此送上深深的哀悼．．．希望被影响的人们勇敢地站起来，再建立美好家园．．．
大火前的Marysville和邻近的国家公园 (2005) The Beautiful Yarra Ranges and Marysville Regions (2005) Before the Bushfire
Have lived in Melbourne (Carlton, Flemington & Doncaster) most of my adult life (fr 1981). Have never seen anything as disastrous, overwelming and heartbreaking as this before…Totally stunned and speechless…
Hi Anon,
Thanks for your comment.
Me too. I have been living in Melbourne for more than 10 years, never ever as heartbroken as this time.
Just wish the beautiful photos will remind us of its beauty and the lovely people there before. And with these photos will give us the Victorians the courage to strive forward, to rebuild the areas, and instil hope in people who have lost so much….
真的讓人心痛~
poor koalas, injured and looking for water everywhere to cool down their body temperature and to quench their thirst~~
I hear the smoke is affecting Sydney too!
Tomorrow, Coles will donate all profits from that day to the bushfire appeal
Indeed. May the survivors of this tragedy “rise from the ashes” again, stronger than before. This tragedy also serves as a reminder to us all, of life’s fragility and unpredictability, I guess. The following Melb news website, is quite good too: http://www.heraldsun.com.au
Had been an obscure visitor to this blogsite since the past year. Many of your blog entries about & life in Melb are reminiscenes of my own past & recent experiences. Good work. Thumbs up, to you…
DSvT,
嗯…..真的很难想象整个镇被夷为平地….
SK,
Ah! So I guess you have seen the youtube video on the firefighter feeding water to the koalas…those poor things…
Michael,
Oh? Really? If this is the case, most Melbournians must be affected by the smoke too?
Yeah, I heard from friends about the Coles bushfire appeal. Glad to hear that businesses are trying to do some goods too.
Anon,
Yeah, true. I hope this tradegy will also remind us of more actions needed to be taken for the planet. On the other hand, life in physical form is fragile and unpredictable, yet, I believe our spiritual strength will be able to transform all struggles and challenges….
Ah ! Thanks for visiting here for a while and thanks for your kind words
It is a great motivation for me. Really appreciate it.
I did not get the chance to write more about Melbourne as much I would love to because I tend to be very busy if I am in Melbourne. Similar to you, I lived in Carlton for a long time and loving that area. Feel free to comment anytime to share your thoughts and experiences in Melbourne.
Wonder if you read my English posts or Chinese posts? I have been a little slack recently, not translating my Chinese posts to English.
Hi Shirls,
Thank you for responding to my insignificant comment & the kind invite to share my thoughts & experiences. Guess, the sense of solidarity (as Melbournians) gave me this courage to post a respond comment here on Victoria’s (also Australia’s) most devastating tragedy. Was (& still am a little) concerned about being perceived as “encroaching” on other friend’s turf. Maybe I am too self-conscious…
So far 450,000 hectares or 1.1 million acres of forest/bushland had been totally burnt, 1800 homes destroyed, more than 1 million wild animals & livestock killed, est. up to 300 people killed and thousands more left homeless and injured. It’s not over yet. Currently, 20 bushfires are still going on. Many parts of Melbourne are experiencing ash shower & shrouded in faint smoke. On a brighter note, the fires are under control & response from the public has been overwhelming. (> A$100 million donated so far).
Read both your Chinese & English postings. But I am more fluent in English. Chinese & Malay are a bit rusty. 也许是因为泡在洋人的地盘太久了吧.
. Yep, indeed Carlton is a nice suburb. Lived there (in Cardigan St, near Victoria Pde) for about 12 years. Still check out Lygon St & Vic Market occasionally to relive the good old days. 
Well, before I overwhelm you with this long comment, I’d better go. Have a memorable V-Day with your other half! Till another time
I hear the smoke is even getting to syd.
Oh ! You are a Malaysian too. Nice to meet you !
Oh? ‘Other friend’s turf’? Do you mean you know someone I know? Heehee…no worries about it at all. Say hello to my friend, whoever that is !
Wow ! You can type Chinese ! That itself is superb ! I only learned it 2 years ago when I started to blog.
You too, happy V-Day !! Btw, long comments are always welcome !
yeah…i heard that too…also, Melbourne drinking water is in danger of contaminated by the bushfires….