Cessnock’s hottest summer on record is drawing to a close, and residents would be breathing a collective sigh of relief.
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The scorching heat will soon be over, and with that, the threat of bushfire will ease.
While we can’t afford to be complacent (there are sure to be some hot days in March), it is an opportune time to reflect on how fortunate the people of Cessnock have been this summer.
We are fortunate to have such wonderful, dedicated firefighters who risked their lives in four major bushfires – all of which are believed to have been deliberately lit.
These fires tore through more than 3000 hectares of bushland, but not one human life was lost, and no properties were significantly damaged.
We are fortunate to have compassionate people like the volunteers from the Native Animal Trust Fund’s Hunter Wildlife Rescue, who continue to look after dozens of animals that have been injured in the bushfires, or more recently, suffering from the extreme heat.
The kindness repaid to the firefighters also speaks volumes of our local community.
From volunteers setting up barbecues and water stations, to kids writing thank you letters or handing out iceblocks, the firies were well-looked after.
February 28 is National Red Balloon Day – an Australia-wide campaign to give thanks and praise to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line each summer to protect our sunburnt country.
Kearsley Public School is taking part and we hope the local community will follow their lead in the coming week.
Following the catastrophic conditions on the weekend of February 11 and 12, Cessnock was counting its blessings after being spared the horror that so many feared.
Other towns in the state – such as Leadville and Uarbry, in the central west, and Pappinbarra, on the mid-north coast – suffered devastating losses.
Appeals have been established for people impacted by these bushfires, and the Cessnock community should consider getting behind them.
After all, it very well could have happened to us.
The summer of 2016/17 will certainly go down as one to remember: from the outrage that someone had caused such terror, to the proud way the community banded together.
Hopefully some lessons have been learnt – summer will be back before we know it.
