It must never happen again. February 16, marks 40 years since Ash Wednesday when 120,000ha in the heart of the SE was destroyed by fire.
The inferno was fanned by 110km winds in 44C temperatures and killed 14 South Easterners, including Lucindale’s Brian Nosworthy, Peter O’Leary and Andrew Lemke.
An estimated 230,000 sheep, 8500 cattle, plus an unknown number of horses, pets and native animals perished in the fire.
At least 360 properties were either fully or partly burnt, including the destruction of 100 houses and key buildings as well as many outbuildings which were never counted.
Around 8500km of fencing was lost and 19,000 hectares of pine trees.
Estimated financial losses in 1983 totalled $100 million, including forestry.
But the replacement value of homes, buildings, fences, livestock, pine trees and water points was millions more.
From Conmurra to Kalangadoo, all that was left was an eerie moonscape of grey and black ash, speckled with burnt trees, dead animals and an unforgettable smell.
Occasional piles of twisted steel and rubble alongside the skeletons of burnt vehicles and pets were reminders of where homes and buildings once stood.
At the time it was rare for women to be CFS members or drive farm fire units.
Many tried to protect their properties and families as best as possible.
The Country Women’s Association turned out in force.
As soon as they could, rural women emptied their pantry cupboards and worked shoulder to shoulder at Lucindale, Callendale, Greenways, Struan, Penola and Millicent.
Together they filled thermoses, water bottles and made sandwiches, cakes, biscuits and other goods to help feed exhausted fire fighters, many of whom were their husbands, sons, fathers, brothers and uncles, as well as friends or neighbours.
In SA, a further 14 people also lost their lives in the Adelaide Hills. Another 47 perished in Victoria, totalling 75 people killed.
Across Australia Ash Wednesday remained the worst fire in the nation’s history until Victoria’s Black Saturday on February 7, 2009.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
Related stories: Firefighters survived burn overs; New release – The 1982-83 Victorian Bushfire Season, Including Ash Wednesday – 16 February 1983 – A Forester’s Perspective
