On 20 December 2019 we were bracing ourselves for a catastrophic fire day. Every Islander was aware of the potential for fires.
The drought had made everything tinder dry. The hot northerly wind swept down from the central Australian desert across the narrow stretch of sea to the Island, and the temperature was racing towards 40 degrees Celsius. Mix this with fickle winds from every direction, dry thunder storms with lightening jagging earthwards and you have a stage set for fire.
Local firefighters abandoned work and waited. Every Kangaroo Island Fire Station was ready. Farmers had their fire fighting equipment on their utes and watched. At first there were small fires across the Island but it was at the heavily forested western end that the fires escalated and soon became a huge wildfire. Eucalyptus forest fires have an intensity and momentum of their own, one that defies human intervention.
Now we are well into the new year and these fires are not yet out, rekindling every catastrophic day. To this point almost 50% of the Island has been ravaged, leaving properties devastated, cattle, sheep and crops destroyed. People have lost their homes, two have died and our unique wildlife has been decimated. Our rare bee populations are struggling like our local businesses whose life blood is tourism and primary industry - both of which have been severely impacted.
For those who don't know much about Kangaroo Island, it is Australia's third largest island with approximately 4,500 square kilometers of picturesque, ecologically diverse land and stunning coastlines. Situated 14 kilometers across Backstairs Passage from the south coast of South Australia it has been a place of rare beauty, tranquility and positive environmental engagement for its 4,500 residents and its thousands of tourists.
Kangaroo Islanders may be hurting at the moment, but we are a strong, resilient, cohesive community. Half of our Island may be burnt, but half is not and is still spectacular! Like the eucalypt forests we will recover.
Already we are moving forward because of the amazing support from firefighters from everywhere, the Australian military assisted by near neighbours and practical donations from across the world ranging from new underwear, hay to feed livestock to boots for koalas with burnt feet.
No one in our community is resting, although we are all fire weary; beds, meals, conversations, listening ears, free coffees; the list of giving and sharing is endless.
As proud UNE graduates of UNE we have a role to play in the recovery of our unique island. As educators and senior leaders in our community we have set up a Kangaroo Island Children’s Bushfire Fund to support the emotional wellbeing of the young children at the local school who have been severely impacted by the bushfires. For more information, email teasdale@internode.on.net or send your donations to:
BankSA Kingscote: BSB 105-094
Account Number: 035 684 740
Account Name: George Teasdale
International: Use Swift Code SGBLAU2S
Donations to the Mayoral Bushfire Fund run by Council to support affected families are also encouraged. To donate to the Mayoral Bushfire Fund, head to the Kangaroo Island website.
