The Hardacre men fighting Victoria’s bushfires together
The Hardacre family lives outside the small Victorian town of Leongatha and father Darren, as well as his two sons, Nathan and Tim, were part of a five-person strike team fighting the East Gippsland fires.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
When duty calls in the tiny town of Ruby there’s a good chance the phone at the Hardacre household is ringing.
Darren Hardacre — a 25-year CFA veteran — and sons Nathan, 22, and Tim, 19, didn’t hesitate responding to Victoria’s fire crisis.
The trio was part of a five-person strike team battling fires in East Gippsland.
They wouldn’t have it any other way.
Darren, 49, told the Herald Sun: “These kids have grown up around it — they know no different.”
“When they were little kids I was captain of the brigade – so it just becomes a part of the norm,’’ he said.
“They were encouraged to join but it was their decision.
“I’m pretty proud that they have.”
Darren and his sons, who live outside Leongatha, were on Friday deployed to Nowa Nowa and Wairewa – getting up at 2am and returning to their CFA camp about 4pm each day after keeping fires at bay.
It was the first time they’d been sent away together.
“It’s devastating to see what the communities have been through,’’ Darren said.
“You don’t realise the expanse of the area.
“Everything in that bush has been devastated where the fires have gone through.”
Nathan, a graduate electrical engineer, and Tim, studying agriculture at university, joined Ruby CFA aged just 16.
Their late great-grandfather was a Ruby CFA stalwart and their 71-year-old grandfather is still a member along with mum Karen and Nathan’s girlfriend Katherine Fitzgerald.
Sister Renee, 15, is also keen to join the ranks when she’s old enough.
“All I remember growing up is going down to the fire station and looking at the fire truck,’’ Nathan said.
“I’m pretty proud that we all managed to go on a crew together.
“We’ve been to many fires together but to go away on a strike team like this is a first for all three of us.
“It’s not just our family it’s the whole local community
“They all step up and help”
Tim said: “Growing up as a kid you’d always go down with dad to the fire station and think: ‘When I’m old enough I’d love to come down here and do what dad’s done’.”
“If you get called you always try and make time to go and help people who are less fortunate,’’ he said.
“People are grateful that you are there, giving up your hometime to protect their houses.”
MORE NEWS:
PREMIER WARNS FIRE DANGER NOT OVER
COMEDY GIANTS UNITE FOR BUSHFIRE CRISIS
BLAZE 10KM FROM MERGING INTO ‘MEGA-FIRE’
Darren, a farming contractor, said the family stood ready for the next call-up as Victoria’s fire danger continued.
Their washed uniforms, still hanging on the clothesline, just need to dry.
“I reckon we will end up in East Gippsland but we are ready to go wherever it needs to be,’’ he said.
“It’s all part of a big team effort.”