YOU can’t call it yet.
With 198 firefighters still online on Sunday, and 18 tankers, 38 slip-ons and nine pieces of heavy machinery on the firegrounds, plus fire bombers still in the air, and damage to sheds, fencing and houses still to be properly assessed; it’s still too early.
And for those who were evacuated ahead of a massive blow-up with The Gurdies bushfire on Friday evening or who saw their lives flash in front of them as the fire front approached; they’re still coming to terms with what just happened.
But with the fire danger rating reduced to ‘Advice’ level for the communities of Pioneer Bay, St Helier, The Gurdies, Grantville and Woodleigh; there was certainly a sense of relief for members of the Grantville and surrounding communities as they got together at the transaction centre at 1pm for a casual debrief and a visit by Santa.
Even that was impacted by the fire, however, with Santa unable to do the usual thing on the back of the fire truck, and deliver the kids’ Christmas presents around the area due to the fact that some roads are still closed to all but local residents.
But it was happy occasion all the same.
The terrific team at the Bass Coast Shire’s Grantville Transaction Centre, some of whom had slept there overnight on Friday and Saturday, had the barbecue fired up and members of the Kernot-Grantville CFA Brigade, hot off the firegrounds, brought Santa in with sirens and lights going.
Although, it must be said, some had a double take at that after the events of the past few days.
Lots of families came in, which is what you wanted to see, and also a good turnout of firefighters, mustered up from the command centre at the Grantville Hall, to lend a hand, and lots of the big wigs too.
Incident Controller Peter Brick, a Senior Emergency Management Capability Specialist with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, was happy to provide members of the community with a status update. The information was also of interest to local shire councillors, including the Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead and Cr Jon Temby, himself a local firefighter.
The Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale was there too, off the firegrounds for the day, and away from her Pound Creek Brigade strike team, to join the community event. Bass Coast CFA Group Officer Damian O’Connor from Wonthaggi was on hand with local knowledge, as were Bass Coast Local Area Police Commander Inspector Cath Middleton, and Sergeant Brent Muir among others.
It was a solid showing of force, both CFA and Victoria Police, and no doubt reassuring to the community ahead of the arrival by the jolly man in red and white.
“It’s just been incredible to see how far and wide the support has come from, and it must be so comforting to see, especially those in the line of the fire, to see those trucks coming up the driveway as the fire front approaches,” said Cr Halstead.
“I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the people directly impacted but just watching the trucks roll in from such a wide area, well beyond our own region, to do what they did… we’re just so enormously grateful.
“And the Bass Coast Shire Council staff too, ready to assist wherever they can, they’ve been fantastic.
“Now, to be able to come together with something of a sense of relief, knowing that there’s still much that needs to be done.”
Santa moved around the crowd greeting the kids, the parents, the firies and the emergency service officials before taking his seat on Santa’s big red chair and calling the kids up for their gifts.
Just a nice moment after days of anxiety, ahead of Christmas, knowing that there may still be dangerous days ahead including Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26 when the weather is predicted to turn hot again, 36 degrees across Bass Coast and winds “becoming northwest to northeasterly at 20km/h to 30km/h during the morning”
According to Incident Controller Peter Brick there’s also the chance of a light shower or two of rain over the next few days. Wouldn’t that be a nice Christmas present from Santa.