Feb 09 2009
How Do You Say Thank You?
MF, my Aussie friend, has been sharing stories of the tragic bush fires in Southern Australia. We only here about how hot it has been playing the tennis championships down there, but there is a starker reality to the heat. You are looking at a very desperate wild animal doing what it must do to survive. The picture appears to be a photograph of the latest newspaper article regarding this terrible situation.
In the middle of it all, is one of our saviours doing their job that they do so well. The uniform says that this is a fireman (fireys in Australia) doing his best to help this little creature. The helping hand is so touching. It’s what they are so good at. Just one of many throughout the world that protect those that can’t protect themselves from impending disaster.
I am always touched by the times that sports announcers take to thank our troops, our firemen, our police forces and medical personnel (ambos) and always thought that it was just lip service. But watching hockey on Saturday night, the pain that you feel in Don Cherry’s voice when he shares the picture of another fallen defender in some far away land, makes this all to clear. He is doing what he can to say thank you and I have no doubt it comes from the bottom of his heart.
So whenever it is possible, take the opportunity to say thank you to our defenders. Go to your local fire hall and drop off some homemade cookies, or when you are going through the drive-through for your next coffee, buy a bunch more and drop them off at your neighbourhood police station. For all the troops abroad, maybe find a way to send an email that just has to say “thank you for what you do”.
We never seem to be short of water, no matter how terrible we think it is for us now. Maybe think of our defenders and little Kooly Koala and put the idea of “chasing the next Bimmer” in its rightful place. One is significantly more important than the other.
Kooly may have lost his home and our defenders just don’t have the luxury of working so close to home, now do they.
TK, another Aussie friend, has been kind enough to provide an update on our “little creature” friend in the aftermath of what has been referred to as Black Saturday in the mountains of the state of Victoria. Officials are investigating the strong possibility that the raging bush fires are the result of a suspected arsonist who is currently under investigation.
To update your story, the Koala has been named Sam and is a female and is currently under care with many more Koalas and other wildlife. She is expected to make a full recovery, but won’t be let back into the wild because their habitat has been destroyed…..currently looking for new homes.Sam was saved just in time by the volunteer “firey”, David Tree, who has been reunited with our creature friend. David Tree and Sam are now world famous. (good on ya, mate)
The crime of arson in Australia carries with it a potential prison term of 25 years. My thinking is that this event may lead to a more appropriate penalty for all the death and destruction that has taken place here.
FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT BUSHFIRES IN VICTORIA
- Average number of fires caused by lightning each year: 149
- Average number of fires deliberately lit each year: 145
- Average number of fires started as a result of campfires each year: 59
(source HeraldSun )
