Colin James: Many fled from the fire and have been left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing
Some lost everything, but the stoicism of the people of Kangaroo Island in the face of enormous disaster is overwhelming, writes Colin James.
Opinion
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The stoicism of Kangaroo Islanders in the aftermath of the fires which have caused widespread destruction to their idyllic home is overwhelming.
There are people who have lost everything, from their homes to their farms to their shacks. Many fled from the fire and have been left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.
During the past few days, I have spoken to numerous islanders reeling from the ferocity of an enormous fire which wreaked havoc because of unexpected wind changes. Together with photographer Emma Brasier, I have taken several to see the damage caused to properties they fled in the dark of night as raging flames raced towards them.
It has been heartbreaking to watch as they have dissolved into grief looking at the twisted ruins of their houses, sheds, fences and paddocks. Many have had to shoot hundreds, in some cases thousands, of injured sheep before digging huge holes with excavators to bury them.
Yesterday, we drove one of the island’s oldest residents, 98-year-old World War II bomber pilot Dean Stanton, and his Chicago-born wife Mamie, to retrieve his war medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, from the house they evacuated Friday night.
Then we went to the farms of his three sons on nearby Stokes Bay Rd, each of which has been destroyed, with homes, paddocks and livestock obliterated. The properties included the farm he established in 1947.
Not once did he show any sign of distress, instead displaying the strength he had as a 22-year-old Wellington bomber pilot above Italy which had been attacked by a night fighter as it dodged flak. Rather than turning tail, he told his four-man crew: “It’s okay chaps we’re going in again.”
This courage epitomises the spirit of the Kangaroo Islanders I have met this week in the most dire of circumstances. There have been several times when, after learning about their experiences last weekend, Emma and I have asked for interviews and photographs. All politely declined, saying there were other people much worse off than them.
One was a farmer who fled his property in his ute with his three sheep dogs. He was sleeping in the vehicle with the dogs in the same clothes he was wearing when he escaped.
Another was a woman who owned a farm with 7000 sheep and four houses, including three rentals. All the houses were destroyed. She fled her home with nothing but two bottles of soda water. By Sunday afternoon, 6500 of the sheep had been shot. She also declined, saying there were others worse off than her.
Then there are the locals who have not been directly affected by fire. Instead of complaining about its adverse economic impact and loss of water, electricity and telecommunications, they have united and vowed to rebuild.
They have poured out their support for neighbours, friends and strangers who have been left with no roofs over their heads or possessions. They have opened homes to provide refuge, donated clothing, emptied wallets and delivered food to farmers working in blackened paddocks to fix fences.
The mood inside hotels, bakeries and cafes is not sombre – or sad. There is still laughter, jovial chatting and friendly banter. Among this there are tales being exchanged of miraculous survival. Being thanked everywhere are emergency services personnel, especially volunteer firefighters, as they enjoy well-earned respite from their duties.
As well as maintaining good humour and spirit, islanders are showing immense respect to those whose lives have been thrown into turmoil. We spent Tuesday driving around the west of the island, which was hit by the full force of the fire. We were the only vehicle on empty roads for hours.
There was no sightseeing, no gawking, no voyeurism.
Neither has there been any sign of looting, unlike other bushfire-affected areas. This is a resilient community which supports and takes care of one another. While the past few days have been traumatic at times, I feel privileged to have spent time with such wonderful people.
May they all stay safe and prosper in the future. They so deserve it.