Having seen all these pictures of disaster and destruction, some of you may be wondering where Ros & I are now.
By a wonderful choice of location, our daughter Cait, husband Nicco and the grandchildren Angus & Phoebe, are at Nth Warrandyte only 20 mins away from Little Wood Farm and so are we.
I think Cait was expecting that we might need some sort of assistance in about 30 years or so and wasn't really expecting a full dress rehearsal just yet. That said, all the players in this little drama have shown nothing but support. I mean, who without a word of complaint gives up their very comfortable double bed for a futon. And we won't mention the disruption caused by having two additional adults for the children to manipulate in the most positive and loving way of course.
If ever there was scope for absolute chaos and havoc, our sudden arrival would have to be up there with the worst of them, but I can say in absolute honesty that we have been made to feel so welcome and supported not only by our immediate families here in Nth Warrandyte with Cait & Nicco and also son Benj & Ema his partner in Fitzroy; but also our relatives and friends in WA, South Australia and NSW and by a myriad of their friends for whom nothing has been too much!
I would especially like to mention Fiona (the fabulous Fifi) & Ben, Mick & Anne, Nadia & Marcus, Cathy & Jamie, Nicole & David, Nicole & Michael, Suzie G, Kim, Jan & Richard, Becca & Sean, Caroline, Anita & Bernie, who have all rallied around Cait and helped us all during these first stressful weeks.
From day-1, we have received, clothing, meals, drinks, transport, wonderful humour, great support and company as well as plenty of hugs and kisses and space to be alone when we needed it.
A thank-you to all these loving relatives and friends, co-workers, acquaintances and people we had almost forgotten we knew, and some who are friends of friends we have never met, who sent gifts and love that can never be repaid, is simply inadequate.
Similarly the efforts of the agencies like Red Cross, St John's, DHS, CentreLink, the Shire of Nillumbik and all their supporters as well as my beloved CFA and the other firefighting agencies like DSE and of course the Police from Victoria and NSW who been nothing short of fabulous in helping to support and maintain the privacy of grieving people.
The suppliers of clothing, food, hats toiletries and massages - hundreds of people I'll never know. Boots from Yakka and Blundstone and an American Company whose name I've forgotten - assistance from Telstra, Vic Roads and teh power companies. Finally I want to mention our employers - The Austin Hospital for Ros and IBM for me, both of whom have been incredibly supportive to us both.
As a non-believer, the closest I can come to godliness is to accept the spirit which has brought all of these people and thousands more like them in enormous generosity to us and the hundreds like us, who now have only each other to begin, with this wonderful sense of support, the task not of rebuilding but rather creating new lives together.
The blessing is that we have the opportunity to start again when so many have not.
Our sympathy and hope for the many who have lost friends, relatives and loved ones - There are no words that have any real meaning except to say how sorry we are.
From the deepest well-springs of our hearts a THANK YOU to each and every person and organisation who has donated, time, money, goods, effort and love to us and those like us, who have been given the chance to start again.
Q
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Quentin - I'm glad to have been able to read this and see how you are doing. I was one of the YMCA staff volunteers who met you at the Diamond Creek Relief Centre and listened to you saying you "didn't need anything" before we looked at boots, clothes and mobile phones from the man who restored your faith in Telstra! I hope your wife liked the chocolates.
ReplyDeleteTake care, stay strong and don't let the red tape get you down. Cath.