Every meeting I attend recently at some point has conversations about the ongoing – yes that right, 2 weeks later and I still say on going – bush fires. Today was no exception at the first network principals meeting where I was party to several separate conversations of how people are affected by the fires.
Just prior to the meeting starting one of my close friends returned my call from the previous night. His house was burnt down in Marysville were over 43 people were killed. Over the weekend the authorities allowed bus loads of residents, including himself to inspect the area in tour buses with instructions that no one was allowed off the bus as the whole place was still a crime scene. The sad and quiet tone in his voice on the phone told me of his continued distress and frustration.
We start the meeting with a get to know you activity – the new network is still in the forming stage – and one of the principals tells how he saw the fire from his home sweep over the hills in the not to distant horizon. And again at the morning break another tells of the struggles of his friends as they come to grips with losing friends in the fires.
The regional director informs us how the department will want to rethink all schools emergency management processes and of how unimaginable it might have been if it had been a school day. He then fields questions from principals about the cancellation of school excursions and camps over the next 6 weeks as the fires continue to burn. Teams of our school psychologists are working with these communities now and for at least the next weeks.
All public schools were encouraged to hold a casual clothes day last friday with donations going to the bush fire relief funds. We held a casual clothes day and as I walked past one of the large buckets held by a parent and student leader at one the entrances to the school I noted the number of $50 notes. The school raised over $4,900 which equates to approximately $120 per student which is simply amazing to see how generous and willing people are to support those affected by the fires.
Our next function is a bush dance with all proceeds going to the victims of the fires.
The death toll is now officially over 208 with more expected to be announced over the next week. The wild life and animal devastation is said to be in the 10’s of thousands.
And tonight I was looking at some of my regular blogs and I see the Boston Globe has a series of photos about the fires.
Its times like this that you realise schools are more and more the centre of many communities – certainly the ones here in Victoria – as the government announces that schools will be the first set of buildings rebuilt in these communities.
