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Post by Webmistress on Dec 11, 2006 16:09:26 GMT 8
There have been shocking bushfires in Victoria for the past week or so and today a tourism landmark was lost. Craigs Hut - Jims mountain top home in the two Man From Snowy River films - was totally destroyed after being engulfed by flames today. It broke my heart to watch such an iconic building burning on tonights news. The town of Mansfield - where much of the films locations were - is under high alert tonight. Some articles about the fires here: www.news.com.au/heraldsun/indepth/section/0,,5010763,00.html
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Post by Webmistress on Dec 11, 2006 17:13:49 GMT 8
Been waiting for an electronic news item on the story - here it is. Snowy River hut destroyed By Melissa Jenkins and Danny Rosh December 11, 2006 07:56pm Article from: AAP A BUSHFIRE has destroyed the iconic Craig's Hut in Victoria's high country, made famous by the film The Man From Snowy River. And firefighters were forced to retreat as flames raced through tree tops in the state's northeast with residents near Bright put on high alert. Up to 10 individual fires are still raging over massive fronts in the northeast and Gippsland, while another blaze continues to burn in the southwest. Since lightning strikes ignited the infernos last Friday, more than 240,000ha of bushland has been burnt out across the state. Governor-General Michael Jeffery today expressed concern for communities under threat. "Our thoughts are with the at-risk communities during this difficult and distressing time," he said. Country Fire Authority (CFA) deputy chief officer Graham Fountain said Craig's Hut – built near Mansfield for the 1980s film The Man From Snowy River – was razed by the flames this afternoon. He said while today's cooler temperatures had allowed crews to strengthen containment lines, west to south-westerly winds of up to 30km/h had fuelled erratic fire behaviour in Tawonga and Tawonga South this afternoon. "That fire has taken a significant run and is skipping through the top of the trees," Mr Fountain said. "That has caused the firefighters to be withdrawn off the fire-line because of safety issues and it is now causing some concern for some townships, including Cheshunt." About 100 people crowded into the town hall at Valencia Creek in Gippsland today, for a briefing on blazes just 12 to 15km from the town. Also, the inferno at Stoneyford in the state's southwest, between Colac and Camperdown, has broken containment lines and is also threatening homes. Mr Fountain said lightening in Gippsland near Dargo sparked some new, smaller outbreaks today. "Communities in and around these fire areas need to remain extremely vigilant," he said. "Winds are still quite strong in the fire areas and are causing escalation in fire activity." Meanwhile, fire authorities had to "fly blind" today after a key piece of technology used to track the outbreaks failed. An infrared scanning device, which is attached to a plane and flown over the state's fire ravaged regions, was damaged yesterday. It was removed for maintenance late yesterday after turbulence and heavy cloud, a Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) spokeswoman said. Today the CFA and DSE had to rely on on-the-ground reports from fire crews and phone-in updates from the public. "If it (the infrared scanning device) is still undergoing maintenance tomorrow we will request a resource from New South Wales that can do the same thing," a DSE spokeswoman said. Only four homes have been lost in the bushfires so far, two on Sunday in the northeast and southwest, and two in the north-east last week. Twenty-eight schools remain closed because of the bushfires, including Mount Beauty Primary School, Mount Beauty Secondary College, Tawonga Primary School and Tambo Upper Primary School, which were shut down today. to the article www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20910043-5005961,00.html
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Post by marysusand on Dec 12, 2006 1:11:13 GMT 8
dear karina and all my friends on the forum another part of our hearts has been cut away with this news, it was not enough for the 5 people yall had lost ,now the homes of people of the beautiful country of snowy river and the hut they use for the 2 movies of snowy river. I pray that no more homes are lost to the fire and that the LORD sends down a long and hard rain to help stop this awful thing happened right now I am hurting for all of your countrymen right now. It feels like my homeland to since I fell in love with the movies I will be praying for all of the people involve for their safety and for the people that has homes there Please keep us updated on this horrible thing that has happened to the people and country that they call home sending my prays to you and all
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Post by Webmistress on Dec 12, 2006 20:10:17 GMT 8
New article from todays The Age:
High country vows to rebuild Snowy film's hut
Orietta Guerrera, Jamieson December 12, 2006
IN A back corner of Jamieson's Memorial Hall, Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu listened with about 70 residents to an update on the town under threat from the rampaging alpine fires.
Despite cooler temperatures yesterday, the high country community was on high alert again, with winds threatening to push the fires in Mount Terrible north.
Country Fire Authority volunteers, with help from Canberra members, laboured to keep the huge blaze behind containment lines. Yesterday afternoon, fire fighters battled to keep a flare-up in thick bushland away from about 20 residences, including a vineyard and holiday homes, in Jamieson Valley.
Local CFA member Andrew Dwyer said the erratic winds were a concern. "The fire's doing weird things, it sort of creates its own weather," he said. "It's quite freaky."
Mr Baillieu visited several towns, including Mansfield and Jamieson. He attended the town meeting in Jamieson, and met CFA volunteers, congratulating them on their community spirit.
"The extraordinary roll-out of volunteers and the community is fantastic. I applaud them all," he said.
East of Jamieson, near Mount Buller, Craig's Hut was destroyed in yesterday's fires. It was built for the Man from Snowy River movies, and had become a significant drawcard for the local tourism industry.
Mansfield Shire Council chief executive Gary Gaffney said it was a devastating blow for the community. Tourism dollars account for 60 per cent of the local economy.
"To hear that it's been destroyed by fire is quite a tragedy, as it is one of our tourism icons," Mr Gaffney said.
"It's got some of the most spectacular views of the high country. It's a wow factor place to be, and everybody who goes there loves the whole scene of it."
He vowed that the hut would be rebuilt. "We'll get it back up, it's part of our tourism heritage — and it's part of our heritage now because of the Man from Snowy River films."
After nine days on edge, Jamieson locals Sue and Kevin Riley used the milder conditions yesterday to stock supplies, and continue to protect their four-hectare property, clearing the area.
"The next couple of days are critical," Sue Riley said.
"You can get lulled into a false sense of security with a day like today."
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Post by Webmistress on Dec 12, 2006 20:18:20 GMT 8
And from todays Herald Sun
Snowy River treasure razed
Brendan Roberts
December 12, 2006 12:00am Article from: Herald-Sun
ONE of Victoria's most popular tourist attractions was turned to ash when a fierce firefront ripped through Victoria's high country. Craig's Hut, built for the Australian film The Man from Snowy River, was left in smouldering ruins after gale-force wind pushed the region's biggest blaze over the western flank of Mt Buller.
Built in the early 1980s as part of the film set, Craig's Hut had been restored and maintained for several years by the Mansfield Four-wheel Drive Club.
* Map: Where the fires are burning * In depth: Bushfire season * Pictures: Front line fighters | Bushfire crisis * Reader feedback: Your messages to our firefighters
Snow-capped and picturesque in winter, the hut was dangerously exposed.
Mansfield CFA incident controller John Kneebone said water bombing aircraft and fire crews were unable to protect it.
"It's in an area we haven't been able to get to," Mr Kneebone said. "We're not sure when it went up."
Mansfield Shire chief executive officer Gary Gaffney said the region had lost a major tourist drawcard.
"It's a huge disappointment . . . we're all feeling very saddened by the news," Mr Gaffney said.
"Craig's Hut was a big part of Mansfield's character, it was the backdrop to the movie and to our region."
Council would restore the hut to its former glory.
"We've restored it in the past and we'll rebuild it now," Mr Gaffney said.
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Post by Webmistress on Dec 12, 2006 20:26:50 GMT 8
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Post by marysusand on Dec 13, 2006 0:48:30 GMT 8
DEAR KARINA ALL THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE AND THE PICTURES. I AM GLAD THAT THEY WILL REBUILD THE HUT, BECAUSE IT IS A PART OF YA'LL HISTORY FROM THE SNOWY RIVER MOVIES . I KNOW THAT MR TOM IS SICK BECAUSE OF THIS HORRIBLE THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO PART OF HIS LIFE TOO. THE PICTURE JUST TORE MY HEART APART WHEN I SAW THEM.. I WENT AND LOOK AT MY AUSSIE MOVIE WHEN I READ YOUR NEWS AND PRAYED THAT IT WOULD STOP SOON BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I CALL GOD'S COUNTRY THANK AGAIN FOR THE PICTURES AND THE NEWS. PLEASE KEEP US UPDATED AND WE WILL KEEP PRAYING
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Post by momserphilly on Dec 14, 2006 5:43:36 GMT 8
Karina, I have a question. If the hut burned down, why in the pictures are there green bushes all around where the hut was? If the fire was that bad that it burned it to the ground why are the bushes close by not singed? Unless I'm not looking at the pictures right. Seems to me if the fire was that bad, it would be a burnt out blackened area all the way around the hut and not just where the hut was built. Am I not getting the whole picture?
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Post by maryanne on Dec 14, 2006 6:22:27 GMT 8
Hi Karina, Thank-you for the news and photos of Craig's Hut, my heart is sad that such an iconic building is now gone, some days before I was watching Snowy 1&2 and wondered if the fires would be near the site, as we have been watching the news of the fires on Sky News here in N.Z. I had it as No2 on MY MUST DO LIST of things to-do with Tom's career, No 1 is to see him on stage. I so do hope that they will rebuild, and they get Tom to officially open it. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO SEE. I had been thinking I would like to do a four-wheel-drive trip to the Hut some-time when I was back in Aus. I went on line and saved as many photos of the Hut as I could find and will use them as my desktop image, so I will have a bit of the history of the place and it will be of comfort in a way, of something lost. Bye for now Maryanne.
Just an update on the Hut, I have been on to Google Search (Craigs Hut) and found some very informative information on Craigs Hut. The original was a set only and had no floor, it was replaced with a more robust version as it became so popular for visitors, and then a third variant of the hut was built on the site, and this third verson is the one burnt down this week. I have wondered if it had been rebuilt over the years as its not quite the same as in the movies,and I see by the photos that you sent Karina of it burnt out, that it had a tin roof under the covering, so have a look, it will keep you reading for many hours. (Now my heart has hope that I will get to see it one day.) Bye for now.
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Post by momserphilly on Dec 14, 2006 23:05:30 GMT 8
Maryanne and Karina, My thoughts are with you and it is very sad that this classic icon is gone. I hope they do rebuild it and like Maryanne said, it would be an outstanding reminder to have not only Tom but Sigrid too at the ribbon cutting ceremony to reopen it. It was supposed to be their home in the pictures. Unfortunately, I have no computer at home any more and I can only use the internet on my work computer so much. I will be watching for pictures and reminders of the Hut to add to my memorabilia. I will also be watching for the reopening when it's ready. Karina, have a great holiday with your Mum and birthday wishes to her too!
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Post by Webmistress on Dec 16, 2006 17:05:48 GMT 8
Karina, I have a question. If the hut burned down, why in the pictures are there green bushes all around where the hut was? If the fire was that bad that it burned it to the ground why are the bushes close by not singed? Unless I'm not looking at the pictures right. Seems to me if the fire was that bad, it would be a burnt out blackened area all the way around the hut and not just where the hut was built. Am I not getting the whole picture? The photos dont show the angle of the fire. The entire mountain top behind the hut is as black as can be. You can see in the bottom photo that the black bit is behind the hut - and the shrubs out the front had not yet been touched when the firefighters got to the fire. I was unable to record the other set of news footage from the night before - I didnt switch my dvd recorder on in time to catch it - but it was being filmed right as the flames had it in full force. So horrible to watch. These fires are just vile at the moment. Victoria and Tasmania are losing houses each day and a man was killed yesterday. Over here in Perth three homes were lost this week. Its 39 degrees today (over 100f) and in all directions from my place I can see smoke clouds. I have all my windows closed because the air is foul.
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Post by Webmistress on Dec 22, 2006 14:38:46 GMT 8
Snow, rain to bring bushfire relief
December 21, 2006 10:00pm Article from: The Sunday Times
SNOW is forecast in bushfire-ravaged areas of Victoria for Christmas Day, in a "crazy" twist for firefighters who have been battling blazes in the alpine region for weeks. Temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius and wind gusts of up to 100km/h are today fanning the massive bushfires which have placed dozens of communities at risk in Victoria's north, north-east and east.
But the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) says the four-day weather forecast holds some relief for the 4600 emergency personnel who have been battling the fires and building containment lines.
"This will be the test of those (containment lines) today," DSE spokesman Duncan Pendrigh said.
"But the good news is there is some rain coming, and it will be really cold on Christmas Day. Maybe even some snow, so it's crazy."
The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed it was forecasting up to 15mm of rain - the biggest rain dump this month - would follow a south-westerly change predicted to hit the state's fire-ravaged east from late today or tonight.
A cold stream of air would follow the rainy change, and the bureau said it was expected to produce a light dusting of snow on Mount Buller, and other alpine peaks, on Monday, Christmas Day.
"It's an interesting twist," Mr Pendrigh said of the prospect of snow.
"But it will give us a rest, though, which is good."
He said all communities to the south and east of the fires should remain on high alert today, while Mount Buller village also was expected to come under ember attack.
"Mount Buller village is a major concern, we have a lot of protection around that, but the fire is going to go up Mount Buller most likely today," Mr Pendrigh said.
Dargo in Gippsland, which is surrounded by bushfires, would come under pressure today, as would communities in Matlock and Woods Point, he said.
The fires, many of which have been burning since December 1, have left one man dead, destroyed more than 30 houses and burnt out 830,000 hectares of bushland.
The affected region covers much of the state's east, spans the Great Dividing Range and also takes in much of the Alpine National Park.
On the fire front today, there were about 350 visiting firefighters from the ACT, NSW and New Zealand.
The kiwi firefighters will return home tomorrow, but a fresh contingent is due to arrive in Victoria in the first week of January.
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