Wednesday, 6 February, 2019
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Black Saturday
10 years on
Special commemorative edition
Scorched souls By Gazette Editor Garry Howe A firefighter throwing a comforting arm around a farmer at Longwarry has emerged as an iconic frozen moment of the events of Black Saturday. Images of that day - 7 February 2009 - are etched into the minds of many people. For the many who endured the horrors and the many that turned out to help - those moments will be stored away forever. This week - coming off a run of hot days and with a pall of smoke in the air from nearby fires - those memories eerily come to the surface for the 10th anniversary of Black Saturday. The firefighter on that Longwarry road was First Lieutenant Joe Aitken. The farmer had approached him, visibly shaken and with a handkerchief covering his mouth, asking for advice. Lieut Atkin reassured him that the CFA was there to help and had the situation under control. Hours later, the fire had claimed a dozen homes in the vicinity, but his wasn’t one of them. That image - one of millions taken by CFA photographer Keith Pakenham in 7500 career callouts - sums up the fear of that day and the bravery and compassion of those first responders. History shows that they didn’t have it under control - no-one could have - and the devastation further north and to the east would claim 173 lives. That was the official count. Unofficially that day claimed many more lives. Hillview Aged Care residents were evacuated to Kooweerup and Hillview CEO Frank Hoff later told a Royal Commission that four deaths could be contributed to the trauma and disruption of that day. Another iconic Black Saturday image is of then Maryknoll CFA Captain Brad Waterhouse
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which eventually claimed his life. It could be argued he was another victim. His parents Keith and Meryl and best mate Rob Mackie remember Brad in this edition. Many have their memories of Black Saturday and this week the Gazette has caught up with a few of those to reflect not only on the horror of that day, but the community spirit that emerged out of it.
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Sports editor Russell Bennett turned out with the Gembrook brigade, reporter Melissa Grant witnessed the devastation and Rebecca Skilton was a horse-loving teenager living on the edge of Bunyip State Forest that day. They all share their recollections in this Black Saturday 10th anniversary special edition - along with many others forever impacted by that day.
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slumped on the ground with head in hands after a battle to save a home. That photo, snapped by a Fairfax photographer, was used worldwide - and Brad was initially embarrassed and ashamed by the attention it received. Brad was never the same after Black Saturday, later diagnosed as suffering from PTSD and then fighting a brave battle with cancer,
Picture: KEITH PAKENHAM
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First Lieutenant Joe Aitken calms a farmer at Longwarry on Black Saturday.
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