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From: "Thelma Mauldon" <>
Subject: Re: [AVNE] Off topic - Bushfires Reply
Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:06:33 +1100
References: <BA536861.F1B6%visualarts@ozemail.com.au> <007301c2c19d$172c4a40$0100a8c0@ts600> <00dd01c2c3af$38a31460$a1d207ca@tipps>


Dear Alan, Do you know some of my family in Stanley and Beechworth, I come
from that area,I have relations at King Valley and Wodonga Bert Skidmore and
wife May
Cheers Thelma
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan French" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 12:47 AM
Subject: Re: [AVNE] Off topic - Bushfires Reply


> Hi Bronwen
> Sincere thanks to yourself and Tony and all the other Listers
for
> your concern for my welfare it is much appreciated.We have lived in
Wodonga
> for over six years
> over in the North Eastern corner.so we are in no danger from the fires ,we
> do have a lot of friends in the Woolshed,Wooragee,Stanley.Beechworth,
> Yackandandah,Murmungee,Chiltern areas it is frustrating
> when you cannot find out what is going on.Everything is so
> controlled now since the tragedy of the Linton fires.
> The Police and SES put up road blocks ,you have to be
> in uniform and attested or certificated or something to be on or near the
> "fireground".Unfortunately I am past my
> "use by" date for firefighting,when we left Wooragee CFA
> headquarters gave me a certificate for forty one years and
> one month of service and sort of said "thats it",actually I started fire
> fighting very young in 1927.I had the Border
> Mail here yesterday doing a bit of a story about how we
> used to go out in that country that is proving so difficult now, and
control
> fires with hand tools and " Old Joan"the
> draught mare in the Furphy cart.Still it was different in those days fire
> was a part of everyones daily life and they
> had learned to live with it and understand it,it was a different forest
too
> we controlled it more for our own safety. I have however fought these
fires
> over every mile
> with my scanner,maps radio,etc,I have a mental picture of all the area it
is
> burning through so I am able to follow their
> progress.We have two sons out there one in Chiltern.he had done 48 hours
> straight on the fire until yesterday
> with his daughter ,son,and a mate they saved one house that was just
> starting to burn at the bottom of Gidley"s Gap the owners were not at
> home.They are not CFA
> members,he knows the Pilot Range from end to end and
> side to side,where all the Aboriginal sites are etc and reckons he can"
> freelance"the fire fighting job.I told him the CFA will put him in gaol
but
> he is not very worried.
> Actually he and a mate saved Wooragee from getting wiped out in the 1985
> fire.The other son lives in Beechworth and knows the Stanley area very
well
> so I have two good scouts to keep me in touch,by the way he says the pines
> did not burn at Stanley seems the fire was travelling so fast that it went
> under them.Please excuse me for rambling on ,there is a lot of fire drama
> going on ,Mt Beauty or Tawonga South is being threatened,another in the
bush
> under a power line,a couple
> of tankers are lost {in the bush"),there has been another fire on Kangaroo
> Track down towards Eldorado,I suppose they got to this one eventually,they
> headed off down the wrong road and were going to finish up a long way
> from the fire,I tried to call the SES who were doing the road block on UHF
> radio to draw them a" mud map'but
> couldn"t make contact,perhaps after not being used for over six years the
> set does not talkanymore.I heard a short while ago that there was a fire
in
> someones stockyard in the Watchbox if they are breaking out at this time
of
> night it seems that tomorrow may be a busy day for the fire crews It"s now
> 12,30. Just a couple of things,some Listers will know of my old friend
Geoff
> Craig of Stanley well
> known for his historical research and publications,he died
> a couple of days ago and there is a funeral service at St
> Joseph"s in Beechworth 10am tomorrow,we don"t know
> as yet if was due to shock from the fire. The other one is I
> would like to swap notes with Thelma some time re her
> family connections..Anyway I am going to give away the
> drama and go to bed,a short time ago a gentleman?
> pulled on the handbrake pushed his lady friend out the door and drove off
> .It"s all happening here tonight!
> Thanks and Regards to All
> Alan French
>
>
>
> .
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tony & Bronwen Smith" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2003 9:33 AM
> Subject: Re: [AVNE] Off topic - Bushfires Reply
>
>
> > has anyone heard from Alan yet???
> > Bronwen
> > ----- Original
> >
>
>

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