Controlled Chaos

The moments leading up to our house being surrounded by mother natures intense flames of red and orange, was spent in both a hurried rush to prepare ourselves for the fight, but also admiring the beauty in such an overwhelming disaster.

Monday, 30th December 2019. I shot this image of my Father, Shaun - 55, in his CFA uniform punching down a cigarette in almost complete serenity. This was taken probably at around 5pm, at our home in Goongerah, far East Gippsland, an hour or so before we were face to face with the flames lapping up the side of our families house. We live very remotely, and had always known the risk of doing so, especially being in the heart of the bush, and placed right on top of a hill.

It was only a mere ten days before this event that I had returned home from my six months of travelling Australia. I saw so much of my country, and was able to, as a newly graduated 18/19 year old, teach myself about life and adulthood through my journey and experiences that came along with it. I knew for a few weeks prior to my return that there were uncontrolled fires lingering in my local area, threatening my community. The choice to stay was mine, and it was easy. My father, having saved our home 6 years earlier alone, and being a persistent Country Fire Authority member for a lengthy amount of time, I felt safe. I felt safe knowing he knew how to manage the situation and he believe that I was a capable sidekick. And most importantly we had almost everything we needed, including a safe retreat option - An underground fire bunker a hop, skip and a jump away.

Preparation was key, that's how our house and ourselves survived. So many people questioned our thoughts to why anyone would ever value their house that much to put themselves in danger like that. But my dad designed and built this house, we all grew as a family here, and we will continue to do so.

The thing about danger is its inescapable, and a lot of the time unforeseeable. Lucky for us we knew what was going to happen, and the various outcomes too. And for the whole day we had been watching the sunny blue sky become consumed slowly but surely with thick smoke billowing from the mountain range our property looks out towards. Amongst prepping ourselves and the house for battle, I spent a fair amount of time on the roof of our house, taking in the view and understanding the fires movements.

Then as the fire closed in around our house(6.30om) my father and I took a side of the house each, we were separated for an hour or so fighting off the embers that managed to spread incredibly fast straight up the hill. By 11.30, we were off to bed.....yes! Living on a hill fed the flames so easily, it was intense, it was absolute hell, but as the fire kept moving up, it passed through our place destroying sheds, caravans, cars, gardens...but not our house thanks to our efforts.

I shared a lot of footage of that night, and even produced my own film on YouTube diving move deeply into what happened and what we were thinking - (My Black Summer, By India MacDonell). Through my experience and my ability to tell the story, I know I have helped others by empowering, Inspiring and educating. And it really proves to me that sometimes you can walk through fire and not get burned.

Now, when I reflect back on what my home used to look like, it still shocks me how fast this place went from a lush green paradise - to a burnt, ashy, post apocalyptic region... I am so happy and thankful our house survived, because I know so many others didn't.... But just because one person's losses are greater than another's, doesn't mean anyone's required to hurt less.