True spirit shines

BUSHFIRE may have stolen the Walker family's home, but it couldn't take their Christmas spirit.

BUSHFIRE may have stolen the Walker family's home, but it couldn't take their Christmas spirit.

A deliberately-lit fireball that raged through their Gippsland property nine days ago left them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Those clothes are the garish orange of the Country Fire Authority -- a uniform they now wear as a badge of honour.

With their Christmas presents reduced to ash, the family could be forgiven for giving the festive season a miss this year.

But not the Walker children. Evan and Brianna and sister Hayley Riley are likely to spend Christmas Day amid the heat and smoke of the relentless wildfire that is ravaging eastern Victoria.

"It's going to be sad because I have kids. But if they want me out there, I'll be there," Hayley said.

"Some of Christmas will be dedicated to the kids, but the fires just have to come first.

"Losing the family home, it makes you more determined. You want to get out and beat this fire."

The Walkers lost their family property near Cowwarr, north of Traralgon.

Hayley and her three children live at Cowwarr, which has so far escaped the worst of the bushfires.

With money he saved for presents among the rubble of the family home, Evan said the best gift he could give would be helping to save other houses.

If that means spending Christmas Day staring down an inferno, so be it.

"I just want to put that bastard of a thing out and get the bastard that lit it," the 18-year-old said.

Brianna, 21, said the bushfire breathing down their necks left little time to think of Christmas.

"We sometimes don't even know what day Christmas is on. It's going to be a sad day," she said.

It will be even sadder for Hayley's children if she is taken away to fight the fire that destroyed 11 houses in the district, including their grandparents' house.

Katelyn and Sam, both 7, and Madison, 2, have been distressed since they watched the cedar home burn to the ground.

But with their mother, they have thrown themselves into raising money for bushfire victims.

A charity drive organised by the local pub has already raised clothing, toys and household goods for homeless families.

"The kids raised $500 in two hours selling raffle tickets. I was so proud of them," Hayley said.

DONATIONS to the Cowwarr bushfire victims appeal can be made to Helen Hopner at the Cricket Club Hotel on 51 489 233.