18 January 2012

How to mark 10 years since the fires?

| johnboy
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fires

Chief Minister Gallagher is asking for your thoughts on how to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2003 fires in the centenary year:

“I visited the Bushfire Memorial in Weston Creek this morning to pay my respects to those who lost their lives and the thousands more among us who were affected in some way,” Ms Gallagher said.

“The 18th of January remains a difficult one for many in the Canberra community and I think all of us can remember exactly what we were doing back on that hot, windy January day in 2003,” the Chief Minister said.

“Everyone in Canberra knows someone who was affected by the firestorm.It was a time in our city’s short history where we were challenged by the force of nature and where the people of Canberra rose to that challenge and worked together to support those who had lost loved ones, homes, animals and possessions.

“Nine years on there are those who will still struggle to deal with the horrors of that day and the memories that come with it. My heart goes out to each and every one of those people, particularly to the families and friends of those who lost their lives.

“At the same time I am proud of the way we, as a community, have supported each other in those difficult days, weeks, months and years of recovery and rebuilding.

“Today, I am asking Canberrans to consider how we should mark this important occasion, to commemorate what must go down as the worst day in our city’s 99 year history,” the Chief Minister said.

Suggestions can be posted on the ‘Time to Talk’ website (http://timetotalk.act.gov.au/), by calling Canberra Connect on 132281 or via Twitter to @actcomms

Your thoughts dear readers?

[Photo Courtesy Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license]

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Whilst well aware that there are diametrically opposed views on remembering this day, I’m sure a recent press release from our Guvners invited citizens to register their interest in attending a ceremony at the Bushfire Memorial.

So you can’t just rock up, you have to be registered!

Katie, just what planet are you and your arse covering mates on?

Your predecessor made a mockery of accepting responsibility, and now you appear to be stage managing any public expression of disagreement with your governments actions.

I think 18th of January could become a more positive day for Weston Creekers, talk about community coming together, how about something something fun and real, for all ages & whooley dooley healthy to boot ?
Thats when the ACT government could open our long awaited community public pool? If they cared even a little, as its been many years( decades) awaited…. by the way, unlike the greedy gungalanese, merely one pool would be sensationally positive.. and as a Weston Creeker i can assure you, that empty words are merely tasteless and leave a particular bitter ashy taste

Lookout Smithers10:26 am 23 Jan 12

Perhaps we should throw a big party? Pfft. Cut the grass? Convert to digital radio?

Holden Caulfield12:16 pm 19 Jan 12

watto23 said :

…Maybe a memorial somewhere, for people to go spend time if they choose to…

Like this one?

Stevian said :

Frankly, I’d rather just let it slip by without any fanfare.

+1

Would those most severely affected really want to be reminded of it?

As someone who had the fire burning metres from my house, but lucky to loose nothing more than some singed clothes, I really don’t want to be reminded of it. Can’t think what those who lost more would think. Maybe a memorial somewhere, for people to go spend time if they choose to, but we don’t need constant reminding of everything.

Or better yet, how about more and better firefighting equipment for the territory!

GardeningGirl11:27 am 19 Jan 12

Rawhide Kid Part3 said :

GardeningGirl said :

qbngeek said :

I-filed said :

I had a colleague a few years ago – wondered why she drove a $1500 car when she was on a good public service wage. She had a hair-trigger temper and was roundly abusive once in the car park. Some time later I noticed her name in reference to underinsured victims of the fires.

Ahhhh the underinsured of the world. Nobody’s fault but their own, just like those who live in flood plains but have no flood coverage, but they want everyone else to pay for their stupidity.

I feel sorry for the people who were affected by the fires, but if you were underinsured that is your own fault.

UNinsured, yes. UNDERinsured, I don’t really agree, I get the feeling it’s not difficult to get caught out. For example after floods stories come out about immediate neighbours being treated differently depending on which insurance company they were with, I vaguely remember some stories about insurance companies after the fires too. I just think finding yourself underinsured is a bit different to choosing not to have insurance.

JessP said :

I am sure the people most affected by that dreadful day remember and mark it in their own way. But I am also sure that the Government will want to have a ceremonies of some description (with photo ops for the pollies who attend).

Let’s move on.

I hope peoples choice of whether they want to be left alone or want to come together on the day is respected. Unless everyone affected really wants the day completely lowkey I hope something is organised for those who do want to come together and to let them know the wider community still remembers and cares but I sure hope it is not used as a political photo op.

What ???

Is there an election coming up?

Huh?

Rawhide Kid Part311:20 am 19 Jan 12

GardeningGirl said :

qbngeek said :

I-filed said :

I had a colleague a few years ago – wondered why she drove a $1500 car when she was on a good public service wage. She had a hair-trigger temper and was roundly abusive once in the car park. Some time later I noticed her name in reference to underinsured victims of the fires.

Ahhhh the underinsured of the world. Nobody’s fault but their own, just like those who live in flood plains but have no flood coverage, but they want everyone else to pay for their stupidity.

I feel sorry for the people who were affected by the fires, but if you were underinsured that is your own fault.

UNinsured, yes. UNDERinsured, I don’t really agree, I get the feeling it’s not difficult to get caught out. For example after floods stories come out about immediate neighbours being treated differently depending on which insurance company they were with, I vaguely remember some stories about insurance companies after the fires too. I just think finding yourself underinsured is a bit different to choosing not to have insurance.

JessP said :

I am sure the people most affected by that dreadful day remember and mark it in their own way. But I am also sure that the Government will want to have a ceremonies of some description (with photo ops for the pollies who attend).

Let’s move on.

I hope peoples choice of whether they want to be left alone or want to come together on the day is respected. Unless everyone affected really wants the day completely lowkey I hope something is organised for those who do want to come together and to let them know the wider community still remembers and cares but I sure hope it is not used as a political photo op.

What ??? Is there an election coming up?

GardeningGirl10:58 am 19 Jan 12

qbngeek said :

I-filed said :

I had a colleague a few years ago – wondered why she drove a $1500 car when she was on a good public service wage. She had a hair-trigger temper and was roundly abusive once in the car park. Some time later I noticed her name in reference to underinsured victims of the fires.

Ahhhh the underinsured of the world. Nobody’s fault but their own, just like those who live in flood plains but have no flood coverage, but they want everyone else to pay for their stupidity.

I feel sorry for the people who were affected by the fires, but if you were underinsured that is your own fault.

UNinsured, yes. UNDERinsured, I don’t really agree, I get the feeling it’s not difficult to get caught out. For example after floods stories come out about immediate neighbours being treated differently depending on which insurance company they were with, I vaguely remember some stories about insurance companies after the fires too. I just think finding yourself underinsured is a bit different to choosing not to have insurance.

JessP said :

I am sure the people most affected by that dreadful day remember and mark it in their own way. But I am also sure that the Government will want to have a ceremonies of some description (with photo ops for the pollies who attend).

Let’s move on.

I hope peoples choice of whether they want to be left alone or want to come together on the day is respected. Unless everyone affected really wants the day completely lowkey I hope something is organised for those who do want to come together and to let them know the wider community still remembers and cares but I sure hope it is not used as a political photo op.

I-filed said :

Gallagher said this morning that it’s “ironic” that the bushfire 10-year anniversary is in the same year as the Canberra centenary. I am trying to work out how that is “ironic” … rather than a strange coincidence. Am I missing something?

I was thinking about a definition of ironic and wanted to check against Wikipedia. But it was all blacked out! I think that’s ironic, but I can’t be sure now.

The ACT Govt could perhaps institute the “Ric Hingee award for 10 solid years of whinging”.

Is it really necessary to have special ceremonies for every event? Couldn’t there just be one low key one, for all the people in the ACT who have killed in tragic circumstances?

I am sure the people most affected by that dreadful day remember and mark it in their own way. But I am also sure that the Government will want to have a ceremonies of some description (with photo ops for the pollies who attend).

Let’s move on.

I-filed said :

I had a colleague a few years ago – wondered why she drove a $1500 car when she was on a good public service wage. She had a hair-trigger temper and was roundly abusive once in the car park. Some time later I noticed her name in reference to underinsured victims of the fires.

Ahhhh the underinsured of the world. Nobody’s fault but their own, just like those who live in flood plains but have no flood coverage, but they want everyone else to pay for their stupidity.

I feel sorry for the people who were affected by the fires, but if you were underinsured that is your own fault.

creative_canberran said :

p1 said :

I’m pretty sure the various emergency services workers get a pretty good mention at every opportunity. Not that they are undeserving, but ‘unsung’ is an odd comment.

How many Canberrans know that that Lower Molonglo facility was defended by just 2 light units, both of which were experiencing technical difficulties due to substandard engine components?

How many Canberrans know that historic Lanyon homestead playing host to a wedding on the day was defended by a single unit as fire swept on all sides?

How many Canberrans know that the Southern Brigade managed to defend Tharwa and in the days before was advising the community on what to prepare for?

I think there’s many smaller stories that deserve to be heard.

(on a side note, it wasn’t all good, how many Canberrans know that the ESB staff were for some time planning fire fighting operations using a Cartoscope free tourist map and a Namadgi non topographic visitor map?)

Fair enough. I was thinking about the firies as a group. When you start talking about individuals, there are a million stories worth hearing.

I too thought #17 Thumper put it very well –
I have a question though.
Are the events really well documented somewhere – and have we learnt the lessons ?
What sources can readers suggest. I recall years ago the ABC had a website that was in effect a sort of history of their news – sort of a timeline as the fires unfolded. I can not see that now.

johnboy said :

it’s like rain on your wedding day…

… which is definitely NOT ironic.

I had a colleague a few years ago – wondered why she drove a $1500 car when she was on a good public service wage. She had a hair-trigger temper and was roundly abusive once in the car park. Some time later I noticed her name in reference to underinsured victims of the fires.

Gallagher said this morning that it’s “ironic” that the bushfire 10-year anniversary is in the same year as the Canberra centenary. I am trying to work out how that is “ironic” … rather than a strange coincidence. Am I missing something?

it’s like rain on your wedding day…

Did I really make those typos?

I agree with Thumperbut wondering what others think I decided I would see what suggestions have been mad on the ‘Time to Talk’ website and followed the link above to find Canberrans have been either slow to respond or apathetic. So far there are only 2 responses of which only 1 is a suggestion and a rather odd one at that.

Frankly, I’d rather just let it slip by without any fanfare.

+1

creative_canberran9:39 pm 18 Jan 12

p1 said :

I’m pretty sure the various emergency services workers get a pretty good mention at every opportunity. Not that they are undeserving, but ‘unsung’ is an odd comment.

How many Canberrans know that that Lower Molonglo facility was defended by just 2 light units, both of which were experiencing technical difficulties due to substandard engine components?

How many Canberrans know that historic Lanyon homestead playing host to a wedding on the day was defended by a single unit as fire swept on all sides?

How many Canberrans know that the Southern Brigade managed to defend Tharwa and in the days before was advising the community on what to prepare for?

I think there’s many smaller stories that deserve to be heard.

(on a side note, it wasn’t all good, how many Canberrans know that the ESB staff were for some time planning fire fighting operations using a Cartoscope free tourist map and a Namadgi non topographic visitor map?)

Frankly, I’d rather just let it slip by without any fanfare.

+1

Would those most severely affected really want to be reminded of it?

s-s-a said :

particularly so close to the 31st anniversary of the floods that killed seven people in Woden

Seven dead v four dead is a pretty simplistic comparison to make.

AFAIK, the floods in Woden didn’t put many tens (?hundreds) of citizens into the front line saving lives and property, other people into hospital with serious burns, displace thousands of people from their homes, render hundreds of families homeless, or destroy millions of dollars worth of public infrastructure?

IMO the unsung heroes of that day are the firies and others at the LMWQCC who managed to stop the chlorine storage tanks from exploding and launching a chemical weapons strike.

While the workers who prevented a chlorine leak, then in the days afterwards got the plant back on line so that poo didn’t spill into the river probably don’t get the recognition they deserve, I’m pretty sure the various emergency services workers get a pretty good mention at every opportunity. Not that they are undeserving, but ‘unsung’ is an odd comment.

particularly so close to the 31st anniversary of the floods that killed seven people in Woden

Seven dead v four dead is a pretty simplistic comparison to make.

AFAIK, the floods in Woden didn’t put many tens (?hundreds) of citizens into the front line saving lives and property, other people into hospital with serious burns, displace thousands of people from their homes, render hundreds of families homeless, or destroy millions of dollars worth of public infrastructure?

IMO the unsung heroes of that day are the firies and others at the LMWQCC who managed to stop the chlorine storage tanks from exploding and launching a chemical weapons strike.

creative_canberran5:13 pm 18 Jan 12

eh_steve said :

Really? It MUST go down as the worst day? The adviser that wrote that didn’t really think it through, particularly so close to the 31st anniversary of the floods that killed seven people in Woden.

You’re really going to try and stack the firestorms against the (tragic) deaths of 7 in a flood?

It absolutely is the worst day in Canberra’s history.
4 dead + almost 500 injured + 70% of territory burnt + water supply severely compromised.

In fact had the fire reached the Lower Molonglo Plant, which it almost did, there would have been a chlorine release forcing mass evacuations of urban Canberra (according to the Coronial Report).

Get some perspective and stop being so foolish.

Holditz said :

Burn an effigy of the then Chief Minister?

+1.

Booting out the government in power at the time would be nice, too.

Waiting For Godot4:47 pm 18 Jan 12

Why don’t we install a pissoir in Stromlo Forest with a bust of the late Paddy McGuinness in the middle of the urinal? McGuinness is of course the gladly departed “journalist” (cough, cough!) who wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald less than 24 hours later – with bodies still being recovered – that Canberra was “a socialist utopia” and that the fires were a good excuse to bulldoze the place.

“Today, I am asking Canberrans to consider how we should mark this important occasion, to commemorate what must go down as the worst day in our city’s 99 year history,” the Chief Minister said.

Really? It MUST go down as the worst day? The adviser that wrote that didn’t really think it through, particularly so close to the 31st anniversary of the floods that killed seven people in Woden.

Bluey said :

A controlled burn off?

This, as the undergrowth is coming back tenfold now but it is mostly weeds. Controlled burns will help reduce these pests. The burns also need to be in Namadgi, just burning off the surrounds of the city is not good enough as the fire crossed a whole heap of farmland with bugger all on it to get to Duffy.

A controlled burn off?

Blen_Carmichael said :

I’ve got a good idea. How about a statue of Maria Doogan instead of Jon Stanhope?

D. All of the above and while were at it, one of our beloved Ginger Ninja.

Blen_Carmichael12:26 pm 18 Jan 12

I’ve got a good idea. How about a statue of Maria Doogan instead of Jon Stanhope?

Rawhide Kid Part312:13 pm 18 Jan 12

Well that’s something I really wanted to remember…..

Holditz said :

Burn an effigy of the then Chief Minister?

+1

Burn an effigy of the then Chief Minister?

Since chewy14 beat me to my instinctive response, I think a nice camping trip out to Macintyres Hut would be a good idea.

chewy14 said :

bonfire and fireworks?

+1

One big tree planting to help the local surrounds get back to the way they were?

the bush is still struggling.

bonfire and fireworks?

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