I have spoken to Errol first thing this morning. He tells me all is well. The fires came within 4kms of the town in which he lives. He was saying that there were fires in the south, east, north east and north. Which only left the town with one road out to the west. They were fortunate.

My condolances to everyone affected by these horrible fires.

1st time I've seen the news for about a week tonight. It's even worse than I'd imagined from the reports I'd heard on the radio.
see that guy runing towards the fire storm to save his valiant. The camera man ran for his life, I wonder if that guy made it or not. Absolutley unbeleivable!

The RAAF are sending relief in forms of clothing food toys personal hygiene (toothbrushes soap shampoo toothpaste) and furniture down.
When Luke told me about this i got on the phone and organised for the Team Leaders at work to do a Team brief in the morning asking them to donate whatever they can spare and so has the local pub on my beat, the bar staff will have some clothes ready for me to pick up tomorrow, and my mechanic and his wife have gone through and got toys n clothes and they will be ready for me to pick up tomorrow too.

Luke and I went through our kids clothes and found so many in as new condition that t=dont fit so they are going to be sent too.

If people do want to donate yea money is going to elp but things like Personal hygiene items are really whats going to be needed.Knowing that they can clean themselves as well as get a change of clothes will help everyone.

Also They need nappies and stuff too.

We are also going to send the kids cot and cot sheets and stuff down too.

so remember not just money but other small items are greatly needed. Oh and tinned food will be of great help

its good to hear errol and family are well, did he mention coops ? mark. he lives in warburton.

also the relief areas are starting to get over run with donations of clothes and the likes, personal hygene stuff is a better idea, nappies and the likes aswell. if you are sending cans make sure they are ring pull type or send a can opener along with them ... $$ are probably the most benificial at this point to start cleaning up the areas and get things on the right track to rebuilding.

i m still waiting to hear from or about 2 freinds and their families that live in kinglake and kinglake west

Best wishes to all affected by both the fires and the flood's..... and the appocalypse in general

These fires are Absolutely terrible.... I cant imagine how bad it must be.
The death toll now stands at 130+

25.7 million raised at last count 3pm tuesday and the money's still coming in.....
It makes you feel good to be Australian.

I have just picked up a bunch of bedsheets, and blankets toys and clothes and some shoes and a few other things from my mechanic and his apprentice - good on them.

and yes toiletries and linen are of the most use now as the reliefs are being inundated with clothes so food nappies toiletries - Boys dont feel ashamed walking into the feminie hygiene aisle of your supermarket - these things i am sure are needed too so dont be shy..imagine if it was your daighter or wife that needed these things at a time like this..

Like it when people can give without expectation and grandiosity.