Saturday 18th November, 2023.

The acrid smell of smoke still lingers…

Big old logs still smolder…

Wallabies try to hide amongst the boulders…

Blackened tree trunks stand out against the new green grass growth…

Scorched and shrivelled fruit trees droop in their prisons…

Hundred year old fence posts have completely disintegrated…

Lizards scurry to hide from predators…

A cute Echidna waddles around trying to find some grub…

Welcome to the country. After several dry lightening strikes starting multiple spot fires on Thursday the 26th October we and many others in the country are now surrounded by a scorched and scarred land. Mother Nature can be very cruel indeed. We knew it could be harsh out here but by god we didn’t foresee a fire storm like this one.

The weekend prior started at Yamba where we had excitedly booked a weeks beach holiday for our wedding anniversary. After checking in that things were under control we headed off Saturday afternoon to enjoy a week at the beach and enjoy some sand between the toes.Two nights later we jumped in the car and headed straight back to start moving belongings as the fire had broken containment lines and was heading in our direction. And now well over a week later we are all trying to catch our breath and work out how much damage has been done. I take my hat off to all of our fabulous neighbors who worked tirelessly around the clock for over a week fighting fires, helping others and saving property. I’m unsure how many thousand hectares burnt in the end but driving from Tenterfield back to Brisbane completely shocked us when we saw how many different areas were affected. But watching the community band together to help each other during this disaster has given me a new faith in humanity and makes me realise that we are extremely blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

After moving belongings twice and packing things into the container we had literally thought that we might be lucky and not be to affected by the fire but boy how wrong we were. With the wind constantly changing speed and direction, the hill behind us lit up like a xmas tree and sped down the hill towards the creek. Quickly moving everything once again to our neighbours all we could do was watch the fire move very quickly through the property and then across to the next neighbouring property. We have never seen or experienced anything like it in our lives and we definitely do not want to see anything like it again. The lightning speed at which the flames consumed the property and the intense heat that radiated it’s no wonder the place was literally incinerated.

After getting over the shock of seeing most of the property incinerated we spent the next few days helping the neighbours keep the fire away from their properties. And then after moving all of our belongings back to the property because lets face it, it wasn’t going to burn twice, we were able to head back to Yamba for one final night to collect our belongings and try to enjoy our wedding anniversary. Sixteen years which is traditionally celebrated with wax which according to google ‘ignites thoughts of candles and other fiery accessories’. Mmm, not sure they meant that literally but I don’t recommend it! I’d advise some beeswax soap instead maybe.

Whilst at times it feels like we have moved to the driest and windiest place in Australia, we absolutely love it here and our wonderful neighbours and community. We are proud to call Tenterfield home.

After some much needed rain earlier in the week the paddocks are looking greener already. Who would have thought this was as black as the night sky last week. New growth provides new hope that Mother Nature will be kinder in the future.