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Wednesday September 8, 2010

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Ric's take on the bushfires

Posted by: By Ric Ditchburn, Magic 1278 | 15 February, 2009 - 10:57 AM
The forgotten fires I had a call while I was on air last week, from an older woman who asked me if there was anything else going on in the world besides Victorian bushfires.

“Hasn’t there been a man taken by a shark somewhere in Queensland?”

She then went on to tell me that she was a cousin of the late Brian Naylor.

I couldn’t imagine what was going on in her mind. Clearly she was sick of hearing and seeing news of one of the most horrific tragedies this country has ever seen. But this is not typical of our normal daily news. Like it or not, it is actually happening. It’s not made up or manufactured for television. This drama is unfolding before our eyes and we are shocked, shaken and terrified by what we see.

I think also we feel guilty for being able to carry on with our own lives as normal, almost as if nothing is happening.

Of course we don’t like being subjected to all this horror and devastation. It makes us feel uncomfortable.

I really didn’t know what to say to my caller, except that if she didn’t like it, maybe she could just turn off the radio and television and pretend it wasn’t happening.

But I didn’t expect that doing that would make it go away. It certainly wouldn’t make it go away for the thousands of people who had their lives devastated over the last few days.

I also suggested to her that before she shut the whole affair out of her mind, she might like to phone and make a small donation to the Red Cross Bushfire Relief Fund.

That alone wouldn’t make it go away, but it just might help those poor souls who are right in the middle of the biggest nightmare of their lives.

Right now, for these people and the ones who have perished, there isn’t much else going on in the world.

Blog comments Your Say

  • We used to live near where the fires have been and have taken a couple of trips up to Kinglake to see for ourselves. I can tell you I am still devastated, unless you see if for yourself you can't imagine the carnage. Instead of moaning about hearing about bushfires so much, maybe the woman can actually go there and volunteer to help, there is so much still to be done. We met a young man last week in Flowerdale who comes across from W.A every couple of weeks to repair fences, then goes back to run his own business. A very selfless person, and he doesn't even live in Victoria. Let's get out of our comfort zones and help, not just by donating money.

    Jane Fisher Sunday 14 June, 2009 - 9:29 AM

  • Hi Ric,
    It made me extremely sad to see the fires on tv in the UK. Many places I had visited when I was staying with my folks in Cheltenham, Vic.
    To see Marysville and the surrounding areas virtually destroyed brought me to tears and the thought of people losing their lives.
    I wish everyone well that have been affected. I just cant imagine what they are all going through.
    Best Wishes, William

    William Snow Wednesday 18 February, 2009 - 7:40 PM

  • Hi Ric
    We all have our thoughts on those tragic bushfires & loss of so many lives, our hearts go out to them all.
    My husband, daughter & myself went shopping & bought as much as we could to send to the victims as well as donated money but, we still feel guilty for being able to come home every night to each other knowing that so many cannot. Pam.

    Pam Tuesday 17 February, 2009 - 3:53 PM

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