The Welsh Pony and Cob Society
Cymdeithas y Merlod a'r Cobiau Cymreig

Update January 2010 Bush Fires Fund

Liz Mansfield-Parnell and Stephie Fitt, knowing I was due to visit my family in Australia, asked me to make time for a visit to the site of the 2009 devastated bushfire region in Victoria, Australia. Rather hesitantly I agreed, and on 25th January, 2010 with family in tow, I set off for the 2 hour drive to meet the Kinglake veterinary surgeon, Mr Simon Bray, whom the fund had helped directly. We were actually following in the footsteps of Prince William who had visited the area 5 days before.

Mr and Mrs Bray of the Bray Equine Veterinary practice greeted us outside their lovely new practice premises and talked us through the terrible events of those days.

Mr and Mrs Simon Bray and their new premises

Having visited this same area two years ago the site now resembled something out of ‘Lord of the Rings’ - that horrible part where the trees all looked dead! Although Australia and its Blue Gum trees need these type of fires to regenerate themselves, the pure size of the fire, the devastation of the area it consumed and the wild life alongside human life that it took in its wake was an image UK can never grasp. The whole area became a crime scene for over 40 days, as these fires were felt to have been started deliberately! Fifteen months on, there are still some residents living in the ‘temporary’ village set up in the centre of Kinglake as they have not as yet been able to re-build their properties.

The Temporary Village of Kinglake

The Temporary Church of Kinglake

Simon Bray took us around his own property and explained to us, how his wife and children had left the property with some animals including the children’s pony by Keston Royal Occasion. Simon himself chose to stay with two older animals left at the hospital in a ‘metal shed stable block’, which he kept hosed down with water from the local creek, until it ran out when he moved over to their own tank water supply!. It was only after the fires had abated that he realised how close he was to death. His neighbours had not been so lucky!

His boundaries were clearly visible to us, but during those fires he recalled not being able to see his own driveway due to the density of the black smoke. The lingering smell left by these fires is something not easily forgotten. Simon felt well prepared for bush fires, having been trained by his family all his life - sadly many others were not so fortunate. Loosing all your fences and outbuildings was nothing to everyone else’s problems.

Simon explained that surprisingly even after all the problems at that time they actually only had to destroy a total of 14 equines. ‘Sam’ the Koala, that hit the world press over these fires, sadly was later one of the casualties but has now taken up ‘residence’ next to Pharlap (the Great racehorse!) in the Melbourne Museum. Simon did not have to hand the actual numbers of animals helped who have survived sufficient to say, ’it was many’.

The monies raised in the UK helped fund a wonderful mobile scope for Simon and Bray Vets to use, which has helped so much during this ‘re-building’ time. Simon was very grateful for the generosity shown by the UK equine fraternity and asked me to convey his appreciation to everyone who has contributed in anyway. The contribution has made such a difference allowing him to treat animals immediately. This modern technology now allows all records to be kept electronically. To date funds have not been available for a rebuilding program at their practice site in the centre of Kinglake and as a result they are working out of the home clinic.

I was left in no doubt that not only had my visit been worthwhile but also the energies and generosities shown by the Welsh membership had been put to a very good cause and was being greatly appreciated. For me personally, I am delighted to think that my standing with a purple bucket, collecting monies at the Llandudno AGM in March 2009 has led to so many animals being helped.

Mrs Angela Kember.

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