ISSN 2007-00IX – January 2020
Unfortunately, …… not with Joyous News
Many of our Guild members live in areas impacted by bushfires and cannot make contact with their friends who they know are also under threat – power is out, and mobile phones are down there’s no internet and even in good times not everyone has access to Social Media.
So those of us who have service and are familiar with networking online have gathered information to let you know about your rug hooking friends. Images shown here, were taken by Gail Nichols in New South Wales and shared with her permission.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology 2019 was the hottest and driest year on record. The bushfire season began with the worst September in recorded history with 130 bushfires in Queensland and northern New South Wales in one day.
Bushfires were burning in areas around Landsborough, Coolum Beach and even in the GoldCoast hinterland – Mt. Tamborine. I’m glad to say all our guild members Judi Tompkins, Annette White and Bec Andersen are safe.
Believe it or not, even the picturesque South Coast of New South Wales is now burning – Miriam Miller, Guild Secretary, and her family had to evacuate from Narrawilly – I understand the fire burned through the pastures but the buildings were saved and she is back home again, safe but shaken and with no internet, unable to send out her newsletter.
In Sydney Martha Birch says “The smoke comes and goes so we are able to avoid the worst of it by staying indoors. Miriam’s daughter has asthma so she’s badly affected but Miriam tells me she’s back to her old self and doing some rug hooking again.“
On hearing the disastrous news from the East Gippsland area in Victoria I contacted the Yarra Valley Rughooking Group – and a quick whip around online determined that they were all safe from bushfires in their areas of Warrandyte, Loch and Lilydale.
In South Australia – Strathalbyn seems to have been spared so far – but the Adelaide Hills have taken a beating and Sue Gilmartin visiting from the UK let me know of the plans her host had in place; go-bags packed and the car to be parked in a clearing with them heading for the sprout fields. My response was why not get in the car and get out of there? apparently the roads are narrow and winding and thick with trees and would be very dangerous to navigate in a smoke-filled fire situation. The damp sprout fields apparently offer more refuge – I just hope they don’t have to put that plan to the test 🙁
Gail Nichols who lives in Mongarlowe near Braidwood, NSW has been fighting fires in their area for months. Little did she know what was in store when she shared this image and explanation with her friends.
“Oct 3: As most of you know my art practice and passion have moved on from ceramics to textiles. For several years a number of unfired pots have languished on shelves in the clay studio waiting for a firing that I finally accepted would not happen. Today I collected and assembled them in the base of our dry dam. This dam has struggled to hold water at the best of times and is looking quite desolate now. I look forward to the day when we get some good rain and the pots will slowly disappear, slaking down to form a clay coating on the dam floor. It will be a day to watch and celebrate. Meanwhile they sit here looking like bones in the landscape.”
Fast forward to Dec 24 and here are the disintegrating pots in the dry dam sharing their refuge with gas cylinders amongst a blackened landscape.
Gail said, “I never expected to be taking this sort of photo when this installation project began, but it’s now part of the story.”
“Dec 10: We’re living in smoke and the end of Budawang Rd is burning, all for a good cause, to contain the main fire when it reaches us here. But still hard to bear for those who love this little piece of paradise at the foot of Mt Budawang.”
“Dec 22: It was a busy day in the Braidwood, Mongarlowe, Nerriga area yesterday. I don’t know all the details yet but can at least tell you we are OK. Our property was impacted and is now very black but all assets are intact. Mop up work today has been assisted by heavy mizzle that set in during the night and has damped things down. I understand not everyone in the state was so lucky. My heart goes out to all those affected.”
“Dec 30: In just over a month we have seen fire work its way progressively through the national parks around us, started by lightning strikes. First it was Tallaganda west of Braidwood , then Budawang to the east. Today it was Monga’s turn, to the south. The pyrocumulus cloud was dramatically visible from our place. Tomorrow we’re on Extreme fire danger rating, and still no rain in sight to stop the monster.”
“Dec 31: “We did it. The fire threw everything at us but we saved the buildings, vehicles and ourselves. Thanks to the Queanbeyan RFS crew who showed up and assisted, and a Mongarlowe crew who checked on us as we started the mopup. It’s been a nightmare day for so many. Just starting to process the news. So sorry for those who’ve suffered such huge losses.
“Jan 1:From this morning’s walk round the new landscape. Fire destroys but has the capacity to create as well. I can see some major art works happening when this is eventually over. But don’t know how much more of this ‘creativity’ we can take.”
“Jan 2: A bit of morning mopup, as king parrot tucks into the seed nearby. There are hungry birds, roos, wallabies, wombats around. Thanks to the Native Animal Rescue Group, Bill Waterhouse in particular, who delivered wildlife food supplies yesterday. And hey, we just noticed one of the casualties of Tuesday’s fire was our rain gauge, gone up in smoke.”
“Jan 2: There’s a wallaby wondering what happened to the garden. And yes that’s a newly refired pot sitting in the black.”
Gail took these pictures back on October 25 – 
one wonders how long will it be before green and colour returns to the landscape?
In answer to a post where a friend said “you must be exhausted” – Gail replied “Tired is the new normal”
It’s to be hoped they will buy a new rain gauge and it will come into use before too much time passes.
So much devastation …. 
Watching the evening news one feels so helpless! Thank you Gail for sharing thoughts and feelings from the front line – we are awe of what you and others in your situation have to contend with.
I end this report with a note from Judi Tompkins, Australian Rugmakers Guild Communications Chair –
“Bush Fire season is a fact of life in Australia and there may not be fire fighters available during big burns to come to your aid. You MUST be self-sufficient if you live or visit fire-prone areas. People living outside major cities (in particular) in Australia MUST have a fire plan and be prepared to implement it in a timely fashion. Will you LEAVE or will you STAY AND DEFEND? If you have overseas visitors be sure they know and understand your plan and what they will be expected to do in the event of fire emergency. Stay Safe!”
This is just the beginning of summer, still months of hot weather left – hope everyone will take care and think of others.
Because of the lack of communications in so many areas we will try keep you up to date with news of our members. Dare I say – Happy Hooking 
