09/02/2026
๐ฅฐ ๐บ๐ถ๐ด๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ถ๐ซ ๐ด๐ถ๐ด๐ฌ๐ต๐ป๐บ ๐ญ๐น๐ถ๐ด ๐ป๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐ท๐จ๐บ๐ป ๐พ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฒ
As the intensity decreases from the mad week we have experienced here, I'd love to share some of the small human moments along the way...
When posting on facebook that we would open our gates for those in need, I had no idea of what was to follow. I have always had a great sense of community, but it humbles me to be the recipient of so much outpouring of gratitude.
The culmination of which was 3 hand-made thankyou cards, written by three boys of a family that had no where to go. Thankyou boys, it means so much to me personally. โค๏ธ
Additionally, another travelling gentleman literally gave me the hat from his head! Its a collectors edition Akubra from the 70's. He insisted I have it as I wear a hat all the time and was so grateful that we could offer what we had available.
I have welcomed 100's of people to the park this week, through not being able to travel to the island, being evacuated from Talisker and Silverton or having to evacuate Rapid Bay campground. It has been a busy week, but the generosity and overwhelming support.... is hard to describe! It restores faith in humanity.
I have to share one beautiful story that resulted from my facebook post offering a place to stay. A lady was sleeping down at the Hobart Memorial Carpark in her car, with no where to stay, when her mother in the UK saw my post. She then packed up, drove into our park in the early hours and stayed a few days in the park until the ferry started again. Cant believe the reach of that post... Almost 400'000 views, over 8'000 likes and 700+ shares! Shows that social media can have a positive impact on social and community cohesion.
Additionally the CFS/SES have set up their basecamp on our oval, that can house 100's of firefighters. Its a basecamp of epic proportions, that have not been set up to this scale, since the Kangaroo Island fires. They will be here for some time yet and we sincerely thank them for their service.
As a distraction from the chaos and rugged days of fighting fires.... Millie and I have been taking our puppies accross for social outings with the firefighters. They were a good substitute for a therapy dog and so well recieved.
Anyway.... whilst the fire is not over, lets hope the containment lines hold and we are over the worst of it.
There have been many feelgood moments that have brought a tear to my eye, but thankyou all for you words of encouragement and offers of help. Thankyou ๐ฆ๐บ (Australia has the best sense of community in the country, I love it!)
