Pam Turner, operator of the Wildwood Wildlife Shelter, remained at her Victoria Valley home on Boxing Day, sheltering with 20 joeys despite fears the Grampians bushfire could reach her. The fire has scorched over 75,000 hectares and is expected to burn into the new year.
Wildwood Wildlife Shelter operator Pam Turner didn't leave her Victoria Valley home on Boxing Day despite fearing the Grampians bushfire could reach her. She remained with the 20 joeys in her lounge room as sprinklers protected the outside. 'I was extremely anxious. I was preparing myself for a giant fireball to come over the mountains,' Turner said. 'I chose to stay for the very reason that I had a cottage full of joeys.
How could I leave them locked in the cottage?' Forecast winds that threatened to push the fire towards Wildwood didn't materialize, and Saturday's rainfall brought some relief. Three homes in Moyston and 11 outbuildings in the surrounding area have been destroyed by the Grampians blaze so far. Animal rescuers await permission to enter the Grampians National Park to assess wildlife losses. The 380-kilometer perimeter fire has scorched more than 75,000 hectares and is expected to burn into the new year. Authorities have reported stock losses, as well as damages to beehives, fencing, pastures, and hay from the fire, which began early last week.Turner was involved in wildlife rescue after the 2006 Mount Lubra fire, which burned half the Grampians. 'For months afterwards we were finding injured kangaroos, burnt on the pads of their feet. They were starving because there was no food,' she said. 'At this stage, we don't know what to expect – it will certainly be ongoing for weeks and weeks.' An Environment Department officer is assessing wildlife losses outside the fire zone and will determine if a triage centre is needed to treat injured animals in coming days
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