Glad you and Shaunna are far from the danger, Mark. Jafo's working on banning the fire, so it doesn't have a chance.   

Good thoughts, prayers, and whatever works for you all in Oz...hoping you all pull through without injury or damage to yourselves and your homes.

We're safe...but my nephew got caught up in one...but out now...

Meanwhile, we both donated plasma today to help...but then spent all day in hospital when Terry had a bad reaction....won't be donating ever again.  Mine was no dramas, at least.

All my hopes and prayers are directed to those in harm’s way. 

Prayer and Hope to all that are in the path of the terrible fires that are raging in parts of Australia, glad that those of you who live there are ok. 

So glad that you and Terry are okay, Paul, and you also, Aussie007.  Hopefully all our other Aussie members are safe and in no immediate danger.  Thus far in Tasmania the only major concern is Pelham near Hobart, quite some distance to where we are in Launceston.   Hopefully the firies get that under control and extinguished very soon, as with all the firefighter heroes battling the worst of conditions across the nation.

Thanks to all who have sent best hopes and wishes to those who have lost loved ones and property, to those still in danger.  Shaunna, Steve and I don't have a lot left in savings after moving from Queensland and having to buy new or replace items we didn't bring or was damaged by the removalists.  However, we are going to donate as much as we can afford to the bushfire relief fund to assist those in need.... the firefighters themselves and those who have lost everything.   It mightn't be a large amount, but every little bit helps when the chips are down for so many.

More celebrities from Australia, the US and around the world have made some generous donations to the rural fire services and people affected by the bushfires.  Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban donated AU$500,000, as did US singer, Pink.  An Aussie comedienne Celeste Barber has raised AU$20,000,000 with assistance from actors and comedians in the US, the UK and Australia.  However, many are saying that no amount of money will be enough to rebuild what has been lost. 

Some towns completely razed to the ground may never be rebuilt or reoccupied.  So many homes and livelihoods have been lost and some may never recover.  Many farmers have lost all their livestock and equipment, small businesses have been totally wiped out, and the land will take generations to recover, meaning billions upon billions of dollars have been lost to fires and drought.

While the focus has been on these devastating fires, the long-running drought has been overlooked, but there are places in NSW and Queensland that have not seen rain in 5 years, and much of the fire devastation is the result of the exceedingly dry conditions.  And sadly, the people with the means and power to enact drought relief, fire relief and prevention have been sitting on their hands for far too long. 

Our PM has pledged 3000 reservist troops to assist in the fire fighting effort, with the navy and air-force providing transport to evacuate people from danger zones, but I'm afraid it's too little too late.  28 have already lost their lives and I fear that number will climb even higher before this crisis is over.

It's not so good here in Launceston, either.  We've had a smoke haze for a couple of days now.  I think much of it is from the Kangaroo Island blaze and the one burning on the Victorian East coast, having travelled across Bass Strait.  It has even reached New Zealand, with Auckland under and orange haze and parts of the South Island reporting smoke haze in several areas.  It has been reported that the glaciers on the South Island have turned a dirty brown from falling ash.

The bushfires may be here in Australia, but other countries in the region, maybe even further afield, are going to feel the effects from smoke haze and diminishing air quality.   We've had some bad bushfires in the past, but nothing as destructive/catastrophic as these.  May it never, ever happen again.

 To be honest, I think the smoke haze from these fires will hang around for some time after they are extinguished, which could be another month or two yet, so yeah, taking some masks with you is a good idea.

If you get the time and opportunity, go to Waikato and tour the brewery there, it's a great experience.  Also Rotorua is somewhere that's well worth a look for the thermal fields, and Queenstown on the South Island.  Again, well worth the visit, especially the trip out to historic Arrow Town, which remains very much as it was built over a century ago.

Anyhow, have a good trip.  

Visibility isn't so great here, though not as bad as that.  However, the air quality around Launceston is poor and persons with heart and or breathing issues are advised to stay indoors.  Being a former smoker I am taking that advice to avoid any smoke related aggravation, not that I need to go anywhere 'til next week sometime.

We are donating directly to the fire services as they need more people on the ground and more/new equipment.  I feel bad that millions of wildlife creatures have perished, but my concern at present is more for those farmers who have lost all their livestock, equipment and homes, etc. 

At least now the military is involved with the firefighting efforts and evacuating folk where necessary.  I cannot recall a worse disaster happening to Australia, and I've been here 50 years, but the Aussie fighting spirit will prevail and we will eventually recover, though some small towns and regions may not be resettled any time soon, if ever, given the total desolation to the land and property

I must say that I am so grateful to all the TV, movie, sporting and music stars from around the world who have donated so much.  Celeste Barber's relief fund has raised over $36 million in just 3 days and so many celebrities have set up other ways to raise money.  Yup, it's pretty special when the world comes together to help in whatever ways they can.

Yeah, he and other sports personalities have donated playing gear and other memorabilia to the bushfire relief cause.  Good on 'em all for the support and the caring.

Another Aussie actor, Chris Hemsworth, donated a million $ as well.  Good on he and all the stars from around the world for their generosity,  Sadly, I do not have the funds to contribute as much, having recently spent the best part of my savings to relocate to Tassie, and to replace this and that, but we are going to donate all we can afford later in the week after our bills and expenses are paid.

What's sickening is the number of parasites who have set up bushfire fund raisers only to pocket the cash.  I sincerely hope these people are found and have the full extent of the law come down upon them.  To anyone wanting to make donations, I suggest that you look to the established funds linked to on the various news sites and to the fire services webites themselves.  A few bogus funds have popped up here and there, so please be careful to ensure your money goes to where you intend it to go.

Quoting Jafo,

reply 18

Warne's baggy green is at 316k at the moment...and counting...

It is now over 500k

Quoting Aussie007,

reply 21

Quoting Jafo,

reply 18

Warne's baggy green is at 316k at the moment...and counting...

It is now over 500k

Sold at over $1 million