We've had some on again off again rain this morning...heavyish rain at that. There's still the smell of smoke in the air though...and I just heard that the fire at the NSW VIC boarder merged last night...

Well it's another day of crazy weather in Adelaide, from 40oC on Thursday, to drizzle and humid yesterday, to 24oC and needing long pants today, pssh tish I say on your climate change nonsense! OK kidding aside I'm all for doing something about climate change and I'm appalled at how slack everyone in power is about doing something and YES I think they need a kick up the butt to wake them up but now is not the time, the climate protesters in Melbourne ATM only have my wrath. There was NO reason they could not have postponed that meet till the crises of the the fires was over, stretching already thin police and other services that are needed desperately else where is beyond irresponsible on the part of the organisers!

With that rant out of the way I'd like to have one more ya kidding me right moment. Coles supermarket, the great supporter of the Aussie Farmer, (guess this is going to take a bit of a beating from people) have donated, wait for it.... $2 to every $1 donated by shoppers (that's $522,010 donated by the public and with Coles contribution taking it to $1.5 million). Don't get me wrong it's great that there are more funds being made available for those in need but.... come on, a corporate giant like Coles can only offer up THAT to it's trusted beloved farmers, to me that seems like a kick in the teeth to the backbone of their business, no farmers, no stock, no stock, no turn over. Think about it, $1.5 mil will possibly help ONE farmer, yes, only one! I don't have the real factual figures in front of me so I may be way off, if there's someone reading this that knows a true breakdown on the figures would you please post them, but think about it. There's the livestock, sheds, farming equipment, feed, irrigation, fencing, their home, not to mention everything personal they've lost and the clearing of the land to make it habitable again for both animals and the farmers, this is not going to be covered quiet so easily as 1.5 million, I think companies such as Coles that rely on these people should be digging a LOT deeper as it's not like it will bankrupt them but not having produce might. Don't forget I've only mentioned grazier's here, not any of the other farmers or wineries that have been destroyed.

OK enough of my rambling, here are today's links for updates and all important RFS/CFS fire warnings and other relevant news pertaining to the bushfires at present. To all of you, stay safe where ever you are.

News and Updates for January 11th

NSW Fire Threat 11 Hours Ago Little reprieve as three fires merge into one in southern NSW Australia bushfires: New danger warning as fires ease - Nine News Live Victorian bushfires LIVE: Cool change, rain a welcome relief for firefighters - Includes full Summary S.A./Kangaroo Island CFS Fires NSW RFS Twitter Bureau of Meteorology Official Homepage for all Australian States

Other News

The truth behind the 'misleading' fire maps False arson claims spread on social media amid Australian bushfire crisis Police contradict claims spread online exaggerating arson's role in Australian bushfires Our buildings aren't made to keep out bushfire smoke. Two daughters welcome home their firefighter dad
Apologises yet again for the pings if you didn't want them but I'm still unable to create a ping group specifically for only those that wish to be kept updated and a few of you do and belong to these groups, again sorry for the intrusion if it is unwanted but I'm sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place.

OMG That is awful! So much worse than when the area around San Francisco was burning, and that was horrendous. I hope they get it under control soon! <3

/is sad

I’m on holiday at the moment, which is wonderful both for the holiday itself and for getting away from it all. It does mean I’m very busy though and haven’t had the time to read much about the fires lately. Everyone I meet asks about the fires.

My entire country is on fire and I don’t want to go home to the months of thick, choking smoke both outside and indoors. I’ve been wearing a mask to and from work. Many of the kids I work with have been coughing their lungs out and for once it’s not contagious.

I live in Sydney so I’m not even very close to the fires (except for the couple of small ones that were in Turramurra) but damn, the smoke is terrible. I feel so bad for everyone affected, particularly those who’ve lost their lives or homes.

Apparently there might be some rain soon? I’m hopeful.

—- Thank you for setting up this thread! It’s nice to see fellow Aussies on here and to see some more dialogue about this that isn’t just... more lies. Blargh.

well, we have once again come home tonight. although the Abbeyard/Mt Buffalo fires are still quite active in the Buckland Valley (South of us), and although it was quite windy here earlier which is flushing smoke from those fires towards us, it has been deemed safe once again for people to return to their properties in most of the Alpine area of Victoria as conditions will cool again over the coming days. it's very odd seeing my local town a ghost town, but great to see some businesses still open and chipping in however they can to the donation efforts.

~our local independant MP Helen Haines explained some of the long-term challenges the region will face. ~sadly another Victorian firefighter has died fighting the blaze near Omeo taking the state's death toll to four. ~but the communities continue to band together and support each other. we will get through this together 💙

Makes money off the people but only gives back if more money is spent with them. Sounds familiar. Would they be donating if people weren't shopping there? If things function there the way they do here in the states Coles will get a tax break for that too. The best thing locals can do is straight donate any money they plan to donate. I get that people have to shop, and at least the store is donating, but stores and corporations get all the kudos and tax breaks/credits for the donations made through them and as you have pointed out, little goes to the actual problem. Multi-million dollar individuals and corporations should do more than they ever do. I like (in the most head-shakingly disgusted way) that one Instagram celebrity puts together a fundraiser that raises almost 40 million from the average citizen donating, a very wealthy Englishman donates a million, multi-million dollar movie deal Aussies only donate $500k, and people getting paid absolutely nothing are donating their lives.

I hope the world remembers who really reached out to help, and applies changes accordingly.

In lighter news...the south coast has been opened up to tourists again! It's now safe for them (and of course residents) to start making their way back...National Parks are still closed though, and it might not be safe to go into the water because of the ash...but it's a start.

Well it's another sad day here, as another firie has lost their life as mentioned above by , who has taken time to keep us informed on what is happening near her, a huge thanks go out to you as you are still by no means out of the woods so really appreciate you taking the time to blog and keep us updated from someone living in the thick of it! YOU ARE AWESOME GIRL!
to right! I'm really hoping that companies that supply farm equipment and the essential 'materials' will pitch in and donate the needed supplies to help get people back on their feet, again in the long run it is to their benefit. Machinery breaks down, needs repairs or replacing, if there aren't any farmers then there's no equipment, no equipment, no services/sales, which again means no profit for the 'big' guys, so yes it would be in their interest to forego the initial dollar to benefit in the long run, but again this is just a layman's point of view and there may be a lot wrong with this ideology.
I don't know if it's a good or bad thing to be honest, I guess it means some money flowing in again but I had heard (only from my brother so don't take it as gospel) that tourists had been an immense pain in the butt to emergency service workers as some had refused to go when they were told to evacuate meaning they were tying up resources that needed to be else where. At the time I said to let them fry, if they are that stupid and have been warned then leave them and help those that want to be helped. Hopefully that was just a one off (if it is indeed true) and there wont be any further problems, although I don't know why anyone would want to willing go to these areas ATM except to 'gawk'. People baffle me with what they find entertaining, it's like those that can't help but stop and get in the way at accidents because they just have to look, yea totally perplexed by the human species to be honest.
Again enough of my ranting here are today's updates and stay safe where ever you are!

News and Updates for January 12th

Victoria's third fire victim Calmer conditions across NSW provide fireground reprieve Federal government pledges $76 million to bushfire trauma treatment In the face of a bushfire catastrophe, our national conversation is still run by politics 'Just beautiful': Sikhs praised for helping NSW South Coast fire victims MyFireWatch Bureau of Meteorology Official Homepage for all Australian States

Thanks to all for the updates, my heart breaks at all the death and destruction.

Sending tons of love.

I think it's more for those who were evacuated. So, if you are a tourist or local and had to leave, it's now safe to go back. I did read that they are encouraging people NOT to come down needlessly just to have a look or things like that.

i wish i was able to help! I am not in position to, but i have a friend who is, and asked if anyone had info on how to donate, i sent her to your links and she donated straight to the firefighters. sending love from Alabama usa <3

Thank you for the update on this . I'm sad to hear that there has been another fireman lost. You see it the same way I do. Interesting how laymen can follow a logical path to profit through showing care for and aiding your community but the policy makers never manage to be able to do that.

You and everyone else that finds this thread informative are most welcome.

UPDATE ABOUT THIS THREAD[/B] At the moment I still can't form a ping group (still not fixed) and I've had a complaint from someone that I'm upsetting their anxiety with the pings, the last thing I wish to do is cause distress to any individuals so for the moment I will hold off on pinging updates.

Please [b]Click the Subscribe to Thread for the time being or check in regularly. It is a shame as the pings have brought this information to new people each day either commenting on here or personally commenting me but as I said I don't wish to upset other users even if it is only one, that's one too many.

Stay safe where ever you are!
[edit]

[u]NEWS FOR TUESDAY THE 14TH[/U] Finally with a lighter side

• Bushfire smoke will circle around the globe and return to Australia, NASA says OK starting with a bit of a downer
• Push to export koalas to New Zealand
• Exclusive: Tens of thousands rush to become volunteer firefighters
• Government pledges $50 million to aid bushfire-affected wildlife
• Wallabies in fire-affected areas receive food drops Why am I seeing death by sweet potato?
• What to say to a victim of the bushfires
• Even in Terrible Times We Aussies Have our Humour - FEARSOME AUSSIE DROP BEAR!

[box=#eeffee]In my comment on the 12th about not pinging I regret that I have had to go back on that as with finally some BETTER and lighter news to report on I felt it would be OK.
I have also altered the Title of this Forum to hopefully alleviate undue stress to some point, I'm sorry but I feel that this is too important to not get out there to you all and I promise the moment I can make a ping group I will![/box]

Thank you for the updates

LATEST NEWS JANUARY 16TH

[BR]

• French firefighting experts are in Australia to provide support
• Victorian bushfire death toll rises to five
• The sheer number of animals killed in Australia’s bushfires could collapse entire ecosystems
• Heavy rain is posing a threat to fire-ravaged Victorian regions
• Indigenous leader calls for a rethink of NSW backburning policy
• Endangered 'dinosaur' Wollemi pines saved
• Bushfires trigger fears ash, debris will wash into Sydney’s water supply in downpour
• UN predicts extreme weather after hottest decade on record
• 'Appalling' scalpers slammed for reselling bushfire relief concert tickets
• Sydney council cancels Australia Day fireworks 'out of respect' for bushfire victims
• Victoria announces inquiry as Morrison government pushes for fire royal commission
• Thousands of tradies offer services for free to help bushfire-affected communities
• Tales of wombat bushfire 'heroes' have gone viral. They're not entirely accurate

LATEST NEWS JANUARY 17TH

[BR]

• Sir David Attenborough hits out at Australia's climate platform
• Further fire relief expected with second day of downpours across NSW
• Temporary weather reprieve for Victoria ahead of uncertain weekend
• Kangaroo Island bushfire victims to be honoured with fly-past
• Bureau of Meteorology Weather Across Australia

I have a heap of link and details on my pet

Australian

Thank you for posting and letting people know, wonderful pet as well!

BUT I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE ME TO CONTINUE WITH THIS OR NOT AS THERE IS NO POINT CREATING A GROUP IF THE INTEREST IS NOT THERE ANY LONGER (Which seems a shame as the problem hasn't gone away by any means as you will see with today's news). I will be making group pings (and some personal pings as Daisies has blocked group pings due to the upset of one of their members that I mentioned a few days ago) for the last time today, if you can please let me know here or comment me privately if you would like me to continue to update this page with regular news and weather let alone create a # group. Thank you.

LATEST NEWS JANUARY 18TH

[BR]

• Record rainfall across NSW
• STAFF RACE TO PROTECT ANIMALS AFTER 'UNPRECEDENTED' FLASH FLOOD AT AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PARK
• To improve firefighters' mental health, we can't wait for them to reach out – we need to 'reach in'
• Bureau of Meteorology Weather Across Australia

Where ever you are, stay safe!

I an definitely interested in these as I have been staying away from the news due to the idiot in charge here, can't stand to see his face or hear him speak.

Sending love and prayers to all affected.

So glad to hear that making ping groups has been fixed!

I appreciate the updates (even though I haven't posted much here, I do read it) and would join a group if you made one.

With the amount of updates you are giving, a ping group would be very welcomed.