19th January 2003
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| Duffy residents comfort one another as they lament their destroyed suburb. |
Fires remain strong throughout the ACT despite the continuous efforts of the fire brigade, however today, weather conditions have begun to stabilize, helping reduce the ferocity of the fires and relieve conditions for the determined fire brigade. It is still unclear of the extent of the damage caused by these fires, however extensive research has been undertaken to find these statistics and to pinpoint the starting influences of the fire. From current perspective, Duffy is definitely the worst hit area, holding 2 deaths alone. Sir Jon Stanhope, ACT's Chief Minister, has promised the majority of the damage to be replaced within 12 to 18 months, working in conjunction with the government and the Canberra Bushfire Appeal, an appeal in which the general public can donate towards the rebuilding of Australia's "Bush Capital" and other affected areas.
Evacuation services have been set up across the territory and are filling rapidly and others are boarding with friends or family. Until notified, residents have been asked to remain in their homes. The Emergency Service Bureau expects the fire will be become easy to contain when it enters grasslands, but there has been multiple difficulties in managing the fire front and fires within residential areas. Immense personal hardship and grief has been created as a result of these bushfires for individual victims. One victim, Ione Kitson, describes the emotions that she and her family experienced; "Sadness that we lost so much and my children lost a lot of innocence in their childhood." It displays that a disaster like this has an underestimated mental effect towards its victims, especially those who lost almost everything. There is an obvious definition between the responses of each individual, depending their personal experience and emotional/ mental / physical stability. Some who have lost a loved one, belongings or their home remain inconsolable after the majority of the damage has been undertaken, whereas others who have minimal damage towards their property and everyday lives remain from this incident. Prime Minister Jon Howard describes the fires as being “The worst he has ever seen.” The ABC sends their thoughts and furthermost empathy to those who have suffered this atrocious disaster.
-Olivia Brown, ABC Reporter
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| The burnt remains of the Stromlo Pine Forest, a thriving area of natural vegetation left as barren wasteland. |
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| Ione Kitson stands amongst the rubble in what was once her hallway. |
