Australia: Heat Wave and Bush Fires (Merged)

Temps expected to be around 38c this weekend…lets hope there’s no copycat arsonists ready to strike again!!!

Death toll is now 200 with 1834 homes lost…over 5000 homeless!!!

Tragic times like these bring out the great Australian spirit where everyone pulls together to help their fellow man…but also the lowlife scum of the Earth come out from under their rocks unfortunately

A CALLOUS thief who made off with fire relief money being collected at a suburban RSL club has struck again.

The man stole two collection tins from a pharmacy in Heaths Rd, Hoppers Crossing, at 7pm yesterday.

That came a day after he walked to the counter of the Werribee RSL on Wednesday, prised open the lid of a charity tin and helped himself to cash.

The tin, clearly marked with the words “Donations for Fire Victims”, was locked onto the counter.

After that theft, at 9pm, police are investigating whether the same man walked into another pokies venue and looked around the counter area before leaving.

Leading Sen-Con Pauline Toohey said people would be disgusted.

“We don’t know what to say. There have been so many tears shed by all Victorians, all Australians, and all police members.

“We’ve all witnessed tremendous valour and comraderie, as all walks of life pull together on this one. And then we see this.

“Despicable is a word – but not strong enough. We are speechless. But we will investigate this matter throughly and prosecute the offender,” leading Sen-Const.Toohey said.

The suspect is described as aged in his 20s or 30s, of olive complexion and has a black bandage on his left arm.

Security images and video of a man police may be able to help with their investigation had been released.

Meanwhile, a suspected burglar will face court today accused of trying to steal money raised by schoolchildren.

The man was arrested after he allegedly broke into a school at Ferny Creek this morning, taking thousands of dollars in donations.

Police arrived at the Ferny Creek Primary School about 3.30am after reports of the break-in.

Officers found windows had been smashed to gain entry into the school and several offices had been disturbed before cash and cheques collected during a fundraising rally were taken.

Police then chased down the man as he ran from the school and arrested him on the school grounds.

A 36-year-old man will face charges of burglary and theft and is expected to appear in court later today.

And a 16-year-old Thomastown youth has been remanded in custody after an investigation into the theft of charity money on Wednesday.

The youth was arrested about 2.30am today in High St, Epping and faced an out of session court hearing.

He was charged with two counts of theft and one count of possessing the proceeds of crime.

The youth is due to face a Children’s Court later today.

The greenies are to blame for some of this, they objected to fire breaks and back burning in order to save animals.
The animals they tried to save are all dead now and a lot of people as well.

Someone wrote earlier that there must be a nice place to live that doesn’t have extreme temperatures.
There is one place I know of, the Azores.
Minimum annual temp around 14ºC, max 25ºC.

I’d consider moving there if the weather wasn’t so nice here.

What part of the peninsula?

Sorrento!!!

I live on the Southern Peninsula but i haven’t seen a whale in years…would my Mother-in-law suffice???

What part of the peninsula? I went down to Yanakie and did a couple of loads in the Drom on the fire in the park yesterday, I flew round the coast, it was a different machine that I normally fly and wasn’t game to head straight across the water:D. There was a turbine Drom as well, it’s the one that makes the wrong sound. 😉

I live on the Southern Peninsula but i haven’t seen a whale in years…would my Mother-in-law suffice???

That word wakes up a small Japanese person in me.. since as soon as i hear it, think about my spear gun and get this urge to harpoon a huge, fat ,slobbering, slow moving pile of blubber… :diablo:

Now now. Calm down and go and hug some whales.

I live on the Southern Peninsula but i haven’t seen a whale in years…would my Mother-in-law suffice???

Now now. Calm down and go and hug some whales.

He can’t do that.

The sharks will get him….. 😀

I believe the Prime Minster has phoned the banks and read the riot act to them…told the greedy b*stards to pull their heads in and show more sympathy

Now now. Calm down and go and hug some whales.

You could equally point the finger at either the bank or the insurance company, I’m curious why the bank gets all the flack? Equally also, fixed rate mortgages usually carry these penalties and it’s a risk you take with them as a consumer.

Having said that, my logic tells me “tough luck” and my heart indeed does sympathise.

I live fairly close to an affected town, Wandong. I know people who’ve lost their house and it all feels terribly close to home. Actually, visiting there made me feel more sad and more poignant than when I visited Hiroshima a few years ago. So, I share the emotion and the feelings as a human, but please lets react and go forth rationally as logical people.

Cannot comprehend the greed of those bloody banks…on the news tonight a young couple who lost their home and all their belongings planned to pay out their mortgage with their insurance return…the bloody greedy heartless b*stards want to charge them an early exit fee of twenty four thousand dollars!!!

I believe the Prime Minster has phoned the banks and read the riot act to them…told the greedy b*stards to pull their heads in and show more sympathy

Koalas can be vicious little blighters but this bought a tear to my eye….
http://player.video.news.com.au/news/#AChOHqKEQmKMfv52qA_TGucgz0BnnYkO
Look at the little fella touching the guy’s hand.Fire fighters,paid or voluntary,heros all!
Sit back and keep watching this link for more “fire” stories.

Cannot comprehend the greed of those bloody banks…on the news tonight a young couple who lost their home and all their belongings planned to pay out their mortgage with their insurance return…the bloody greedy heartless b*stards want to charge them an early exit fee of twenty four thousand dollars!!!

in some good news, the Australian cricket team went over to the whittlesea Camp to spend time with the victims of the fires.

Glad to see that Ponting ad the team made the time and effort to bring smiles and good will.

good work guys !

There are lowlifes and people with no moral fiber in every society… Im not shocked that kind on person who sells heroin to 14y olds would do something like looting home where entire family perished..

I prefer to concentrate on positive side ,, the fact that in 2 days people have raised something like 50 million.. and thats excluding corporate donations or government. All the volounteers that are pouring in to face the flame and defend homes of people whom they dont know, but for being their countrymen. The fact that there was 20,000 blood donations in 2 days… (normally its few hundred a day).

The stories of humanity and selflessness far outnumber few miserable creatures looking to profit in this catastrophe.

I know Steve i cant ******* believe it my self that people would be this reckless. Ive also been thinking that with arsonists still at large, and the fact that number of fires were set in one day some distance apart.. could there be more to this that we not being told?

I just can’t believe there are so many low life scum around…apparently some phonies are going around door to door and knocking asking for donations…Police also report there are cases of looting being reported

I know Steve i cant ******* believe it my self that people would be this reckless. Ive also been thinking that with arsonists still at large, and the fact that number of fires were set in one day some distance apart.. could there be more to this that we not being told?

From Sun Herald

SEVERAL fresh blazes have been deliberately lit as 100 police officers hunt the arsonists believed responsible for lighting some of the deadly Victoria fires.

New fires were detected and put out in the Beechworth area. It is believed police have a description of a car used by those allegedly responsible.

Victorian Premier John Brumby said it was virtually impossible to believe that people would be still lighting fires in the current situation. “There seems little doubt that these were deliberately lit. I think words escape us all when it comes to describing that deliberate arson,” he said.

Community shock and anger at arsonists have spread nationwide as the massive scale of death and destruction have become known.

Police have confirmed another three fires started overnight were deliberately lit by arsonists

mere technicalities.

if i had of mentioned kingslake west, no one would know where that is.

Not a mere technicality at all. For people with friends and relatives at risk, it’s a damn good idea to try and get it right. You could put ‘…near Melbourne’ which would be accurate enough and not misleading.

In the scheme of things though, it is not important about the location..

I think most people would see the location as extremely important. It’s not hard to get it right, and not to create unnecessary worry by creating and spreading rumour.

Thanks.

They’re now expecting well over 200 dead with at least a 1000 homes destroyed…donations have just past the thirty million dollar mark!!!