Wieambilla resident shares heartfelt recovery story from recent Western Downs bushfires
Western Downs residents who were only evacuating their homes four weeks ago to escape the deadly bushfires have now rejoiced with rain that’s showered down on incinerated land, with one woman sharing what her journey of recovery has looked like since the devastating event.
Dalby
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It’s been four weeks since deadly bushfires swept through the Western Downs for almost two weeks straight, destroying many homes, claiming two lives, and changing the lives of hundreds of people forever.
However with heavy rainfall showering across the region this week, some residents are feeling more hopeful in their recovery efforts.
Wildlife carer and Wieambilla resident Chris Mansell was one of the many who had to evacuate her home, taking with her four dogs and leaving behind a miniature horse and the joeys she was taking care of.
Ms Mansell has shared what recovery has looked like in the past month along with how her new ‘personal flood plain’ from recent rainfall has started to heal her damaged property.
“The animals are all good,” she said.
“Even my old mini horse Meg who survived the fires, and the last joey I had to release during the fires, turned up (Thursday) morning, I was so thrilled because I thought she’d died.
“(The roos) are definitely jumpy, pardon the pun.”
A major attraction for residents including the wildlife carer, who live in this tiny corner of the world, was the privacy among what used to be endless rows of trees and bush. However, the fires have wiped out and incinerated a lot of the shrubbery.
“All I see when I drive into town is burnt sticks that were once beautiful trees,” Ms Mansell said.
“I’ve even driven past my own driveway because it doesn’t look like my driveway anymore.”
Ms Mansell said heavy rain in the past week allowed any concern for active fires to be put to rest, and green patches of grass had begun to show up through the land now mostly ash.
“Things are getting back to normal, whatever that might be,” she said.
“The rain definitely got here. I have my own personal flood plain, but at least it’s put out the smouldering trees.
“The burnt soil is now greening up through the dead and burnt trees, which is certainly a contrast.”
While the long-time Wieambilla resident, along with many others are looking to the bright side, and appreciating the wet weather, recovery has not been an easy feat.
“When we first came home, there was no power for another eight days,” Ms Mansell said.
“I was offered a generator but there were looters and I didn’t want to take the risk.
“But believe me, the Ergon guys got a hug when the power was turned back on.”
“People take these opportunities and it’s disappointing, it’s happened while people have lost their homes and these (looters) have put themselves in danger as these properties were evacuated for a reason,” he said at the time.
Mayor Paul McVeigh said the accommodation which is expected to take eight weeks to get up and running, was “vital” for residents without homes.
“These families have been through absolute hell, so creating a safe roof over their head that’s close to their support networks in Tara is crucial in their journeys towards recovery,” he said.
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