'Helping others, just because that's what Aussies do'. Brett_McLeod shares his experience of reporting inside the fire-affected communities. 9News
One of the worst crimes of journalism is to throw a word like "heroes" too cheaply.Meeting the fire brigade crew from Wyoming in New South Wales who survived the hellscape south of Nowra on New Year's Eve was humbling. The vision inside the cabin of their truck as they were overtaken by giant tongues and whirlwinds of flame was astonishing.Yet talking to them hours later, they were utterly matter or fact. Their training kicked in, they said. They stuck to the plan.
Many families took the sensible option before New Year's Eve and evacuated. Others stayed, and after saving their own homes turned their hoses on their neighbours'. When I met them they had nothing: no clothes, no food, no possessions, no home. All was destroyed in the flames.Robyn had survived by jumping in the lake. She had to tread water for an hour. She says she was struggling to stay afloat - when through the thick haze a jet ski appeared. A neighbour from the far side of the lake, Mark, came to their rescue dragging Robyn out of the water - just in time she says.
The town shop soon ran out of supplies. There was no power, no phones, no running water. Mark and Nicole and their neighbours pooled all they had, sharing food and clothes with those who had neither. Everything was offered without question, and thanks was waved away as unnecessary. That's just what you do in a country town.. We decided to stay overnight in town, to get their story out on the next morning's Today Show.
He didn't even pause to consider before he said "take my place." I thought he meant we could doss down in the lounge room. Nope, he insisted, my wife and kids got out, I can stay at a mate's place - you get mine.
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