Former Wallaby Al Baxter was fearsome on a rugby field but on New Year’s Eve he joined more than 1000 people in a terrifying fight for life on Malua Bay beach. A whiskey in his beach bag settled his nerves to some degree after a frightening day. You will also hear from Jan Russell and how her extraordinary neighbours saved her home while she was sheltering at the beach. Herald Sun photographer Alex Coppel says he was torn, save his family’s home or take photos of the 1000-plus people sheltering from an inferno on the waterfront.