It is less than an hour’s drive from the city. Haze envelops us as we drive along the Eastern Freeway towards Lilydale and Healesville. On any other day the misty morning would have heralded a fine autumn day. Driving into Lilydale, the countryside looks beautiful. But the smell of smoke belies the beauty and reminds … Continue reading black yarra valley
disasters
one week on
One week on, nothing has changed really. One week on, I get on my scooter and ride to work. Same route, same traffic. Same sunshine, same temperature. I get in, make a coffee, log on. Tonight I will go home to our house and relax in the living room. I will watch something light on … Continue reading one week on
the fireground
We packed the catering truck with five hundred meals from two city hotels, and headed north out the Hume Highway into the country. It was almost nine o’clock. Darkness fell as we left the city lights and drove into the unknown. For a day and a half we had watched as fires tore through Victoria. … Continue reading the fireground
fire, flood and pestilence
As you know, I work for Emergency Services in Red Cross. This was a typical summer's day at work for me: Since last week we have been tracking tropical storms across northern Queensland which have been wreaking havoc and dumping more rainwater in a day than some European countries see in a month. With the hot weather … Continue reading fire, flood and pestilence
Máiréad Doyle 