Angels in orange return
by Nathan Weatherhead Crews from several SES units around the metropolitan area have made good on their promise to return and help clear properties after the Bunyip State Forest fire in March 2019.
“Chaps and Chainsaws” was an initiative set up by VICSES after the destructive Black Saturday fires in 2009, which saw several volunteers head into the affected areas to help clean up resident’s properties.
After spending close to a decade going back to affected areas, the initiative was again back in action after the March 2019 fire in the Bunyip State Forest which saw 29 homes and 67 outbuildings destroyed, as hectares burnt.
This time the group visited properties in Bunyip North, Garfield North and Tonimbuk in September 2019, vowing to return to continue their work, before plans were changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chelsea SES deputy controller Phil Wall said after waiting for restrictions to ease, they agreed January 9 and 10 would be viable to return to the Bunyip area.
“We met at the Orchard Café and split into two groups to go out on two properties, it was all organised and we quickly got into the work,” he said.
Around 30 volunteers were on hand to help clear trees, move items and cut up logs in order to well as 15,000 help residents continue their recovery from the devastating fires almost two years on.
“What struck our group was their reaction. We were helping clear the land, but what came out strongly was that in their mind, it was more than that, it was the emotional support and knowing that someone cared still,” Mr Wall said.
Property owner Ingrid Green said while the day was about physical support, just knowing others cared was important to her.
“It’s like, some days, you’ve got to climb Mount Everest and some days you can’t even reach base camp. A day like today is not just about the physical support from the SES, in a lot of ways, it’s more about the emotional support.
“Just knowing someone cares and there is someone, willing to help you reach your own summit. At Mt Everest they had Sherpas, but today, thanks to the SES, we had angels in orange,” Ms Green said.
Last weekend saw even more volunteers join the initiative as they again headed out to fire affected properties to help residents with the ongoing arduous clean up task.
“For us, sadly, we have to go to a lot of awful things, but for our guys to do a job like we did over the last few weekends and help out, it really was fabulous. It gave us the opportunity to fulfill our promise of coming back,” Mr Wall said.