December 7, 2025 • 29 mins
Well, that was probably the scariest weekend the Central Coast has seen in years.
In this episode, I chat with a couple of locals who were right in the thick of the Koolewong fires to hear their stories. You'll hear one of them explain why she wasn't sure if she should leave the house, and how the other one ended up in an absolute panic due to a cat named Pedro who decided it was a great time to play games.
Plus, we realise the one thing that we all forgot to do... (But will be doing now!)
If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a comment - or maybe rate the podcast if you haven't done so yet? Thanks heaps!!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
With Rabbit. I'm Rabbit.
I record this podcast inside a cute little retro caravan from
1967 that I've tore around all over the place.
Fan podcast with Rabbit. Well, hey there and welcome into
this episode, which is going to be a very different one from
what we usually do. I am recording this from inside
my cave, which is buried underneath my house.
(00:27):
It's like the Bat cave but with less cool.
Actually, no, it's going to say less cool toys.
Are you kidding me? As I look around here at the
amount of cool toys like Batman would look at my cave and go oh
he's got one of those walking pad treadmills that fit
underneath your desk. Alfred.
I was actually going to say thisis going to be quite a different
tone to this one because of the subject matter, but I've started
(00:49):
off comparing my cave to Batman's look over the weekend.
It was crazy man. The fires in Cooluong they just
look it started so quick and it escalated even quicker.
My so my place where about 7 KS from Cooluong.
I know that because I looked it up on the maps because if the
wind turned southerly from whereit was, then that was heading
(01:11):
our way. Walking outside at any point,
there were multi choppers and planes going over the top, going
back, refilling, going and dumping more water.
And it was scary, man. Watching it on the news on TV
and photos and videos and thingson social media and knowing that
there's just down the road and actually I'd only been down
there. I went for a run around the
waterfront round by Pointe Claire like 6 hours before all
(01:33):
of this started. So yeah, it was just, it was a
very weird moment. I think the closest we've come
to that sort of feeling was 2019going into 20 through that
summer and the fires weren't actually that close to our
place, but the sky was just fullof ash.
It was like settling all over the deck and we had all our go
bags ready to go with all the passports and change of clothes
(01:56):
and all those things you need tohave.
Yeah, the weekend brought all ofthat back.
So in this episode, we're going to chat to a couple of people
who were directly affected by it.
We know at least 12 homes have been lost, and the same that
number might still rise. Behind all of those numbers, of
course, is a person, is a familyand a really scary moment as
(02:17):
well. So this podcast, you know,
someone asked me about six months ago, you know, what's the
podcast all about? And I didn't come up with this.
Someone else did when I was describing it to them.
And she goes, oh, so it's about people's stories.
And I was like, yeah, yeah, that's it.
So we're going to get a couple of stories from people who were
right in the middle of it today.One who had to make the
(02:37):
terrifying choice to evacuate while looking around for Pedro.
He's a cat and he's Spanish. And we'll get to her in just a
SEC, but we're going to start with one that's.
Hello, Amy speaking. Amy, it's Rabbit.
Hi, how are you? Good.
How are you doing? Yeah, pretty scared, but good.
'Cause you weren't even home forit, right?
So where do you live? I live at Tascott, OK.
(02:58):
And so I was just about to leaveto go to Jimmy Barnes and then I
get all hazards near you at shows up Bush fire 1 kilometre
away. So you already had the app on
the phone? I already had the app and I have
watched zone set up. Is that because of previous
things around your area? Yes, well, I used to live in
Carry On and I'd lived there for20 years and we had four major
(03:18):
fires where I got evacuated up there.
Oh wow. But it's not like new to me, but
it doesn't not scare me every time.
So you didn't know anything about the fires at all at the
point when it you're like, you're about to head off to
Jimmy Barnes and the thing pops up on your phone.
Yes. And then I go outside and I can
see flames. Oh no.
And then at the decision, the tickets for $183 each.
(03:41):
Do you go? Do you stay?
What do I do? My children are at their dad's
for the weekend. What do I do?
Do I stay? Do I go?
So I grabbed their favorite teddies, I grabbed the birth
certificates, threw them in my friend's car, and then 'cause I
thought, I'm not a firefighter, there's nothing I can do anyway.
OK, so I downloaded a list from online yesterday and then
(04:01):
tweaked it all with with other things 'cause it didn't have all
of Harley's favorite toys on thelist by default.
That's important, I know. Yeah.
And so we started going through that, but when you're like right
in that moment, so you've grabbed the favorite teddies.
Yeah. And that's the thing.
I was talking to Seth about it yesterday, going she's like,
what other things should we put in?
I guess just the irreplaceable things, I think.
And then we're going, well, whatare those?
(04:22):
What? What are they like?
You know, I've got photos from when I was a child.
They're not on phones, they're in photo albums.
So you threw a few things in thecar and then you left.
So you'd looked on the app and it shows you that it's not like
right by your house? It said it was 1 kilometre away.
Oh. Man, yeah.
And I'm like, everything's pretty much replaceable.
(04:42):
They're just things. Let's just get out of here.
We'll be out of the way. We'll be safe.
Let's just. Go and so how did you keep up to
date on what was happening even it's.
Incredibly difficult because in the Hunter the Internet was
really sketchy and I've got everyone reaching out to me and
I can't check anything. I can't check my cameras, I
can't check the apps, I can't check Facebook, nothing.
(05:02):
You're talking like security cameras at the house.
Yes, yes. Wait, so you went to the Jimmy
Barnes concert? I went to the Jimmy Barnes
concert. Are you constantly trying to
check on your phone? In between each song I would be
getting back on again and the Internet would be like, Yep, you
can have a little bit of Internet now and then
hypotheculate. No, no more Internet for the
next 10 minute. And so how were you getting
(05:22):
updates? Was there anyone else from
around the area that you know that you're able to hear from?
No, most of my friends live in Carry On, but that's where I
lived for 20 years and they're suddenly going, oh, it's headed
towards office. It's in the Mill Perry trail, so
they're freaking out. So I'm thinking, well, at least
that's a waste for me. I was a little bit more secure
in the knowledge that the fire wasn't coming my way.
(05:44):
Far out, man. I'm just picturing like, what's
going through your head At some point were you thinking, you
know, if that turns, you could just lose everything?
Yes. Most definitely.
And the other issue I have were people were like, you can't get
home, They're shut all the roadsnear your house.
Yeah, right. Then I'm thinking, do I get my
friend to drop me like a kilometer away and I walk home?
(06:06):
Yeah, So what did you do? So wait, First off, how was the
concert? It was amazing.
Kate Sobrano, Ian Moss, Ice House.
Jimmy Barnes. Did they make any reference to
it or anything? Did they know?
No, they didn't. And then about 8:00, when Jimmy
Barnes was just about to come on, I'm honestly sure it was a
mini cyclone came through and weall almost got damaged.
(06:27):
The cameras almost fell off on top of us and they sent us all
back to our cars and I'm just like, what a day.
What? Is going on.
Sound Cycling. So what time was that you say
about 8:00 last night about? 8:00 Yeah.
So they postponed the concert and said, everyone go back to
your cars and we'll let you knowwhen it's gonna start again.
I'm trying to. Think what time it was but on
Saturday night at it was still light so but only just I don't
(06:51):
know maybe around 7:00 or something 'cause I we only live
like 7 KS from where the fires were and it poured down at our
place like torrential downpour. Do you know if it rains around
your place? Yes, I saw my cameras when I got
home 'cause I was checking the cameras.
It really, really rained. Yeah.
And so when you left the concert, so you're you knew then
(07:14):
that your house was OK. Yes, I was pretty confident my
house was OK. Yeah.
So we drove home and it took 3 hours to get home.
And then normally it's an hour and a half drive because we
couldn't get out of the concert.And then we got home about 1:32
AM Yeah, and we could see the file as we're driving through
Pointe Claire. You could just see it and it was
the fire. Was still going.
(07:34):
It was still going, so I dumped in my car and I went down to the
Cooliwong foreshore just to see if I could see and I watched it
start up again at 1:30 this morning.
Oh, I didn't know that. And I spoke to the lovely
Fieries like they were just so lovely and they had started at
11:00 PM, so they were just having a little bit of a break.
And they said, look, we're just watching at the moment.
(07:54):
We're not that worried about it.But she said make sure you keep
your bag. You go bag by your door.
Keep watching that app. Yeah, I mean, we set up our bags
and everything yesterday. We've got our go bags all
sorted, our go tubs actually. So everyone often got some tubs
because even though we're not that close, I mean if the wind
did swung around it, it blows the embers so far.
But it was also just the fact that even completely unrelated
(08:17):
to that fire over there where welive, we're surrounded by
bushland like all around the house.
And it's just that day was so hot and dry and yeah, it
wouldn't take much. Not much at all.
And I actually saw on Facebook there was a little fire at
Springfield last night. So it's really a case of just
being ready, having those thingsready to go if you have to and.
(08:41):
Then this morning I've got broken out by helicopters just
constantly going around my house.
I thought I heard more helicopters going again this
morning, so I really would have thought that rain last night
would have extinguished everything.
I would have thought so too. When I saw it on the camera it
was like they have really rainedhere but no wasn't enough.
So you got home at what, like 2:00 in the morning?
(09:02):
Yes. And there was people everywhere
at like 132 o'clock this morning, just people walking the
street, standing there chatting to neighbors.
Everyone was just out watching and they're all scared.
Scared. Yeah, there was a lot of
sleepless nights. Yeah.
Oh, yeah. I mean, if you're in that area,
how do you even get to sleep thinking if it turns, which it
(09:23):
can do and it does, yes. With the wind, yeah.
And, and again, like I said, it doesn't even take the wind.
It could just a new one can start up somewhere else when
it's so dry like that. Oh, man.
So what does this mean for you now?
Anything change now? I'm going to stay home today
just in case. It's very windy here today and
I'm just going to be careful andwatch.
(09:44):
I might go get the green bin outand fill it with some junk.
What do you mean? When you leave the Bush, there's
so many sticks, so many leaves, all the kind of fuel that fires
love. So you're gonna like.
Do a clean up. Around the place and put it all
into the bin. Yes, I am.
That's right. Thanks so much for filling us
in. Well, that's people.
(10:04):
I just can't imagine the heartache that those people are
going through to lose their homes and all their memories and
it's. Just my heart's just.
Breaking for them. Yeah, there was one I was just
looking at just before Tony and Claudia Stellino that have lost
their home of 18 years. Wow, that would have so much in
there that you can't replace. Yeah.
(10:25):
Wow. Oh my God, glad you're OK.
Glad your house is OK. Obviously thinking of everyone
else that's caught up in it all as well.
And geez, those fieries and the SES and all of them, all these
volunteers working all through the night.
And I was. Talking to them last night.
Thank you. Thank you for all that you do.
We absolutely appreciate you. Amazing.
It's times like these when the community like really comes
(10:45):
together. I was seeing all these posts
from like businesses that were like cafes and that saying any,
you know, first responders or SES or anyway you come down, it
won't cost you anything for food, drink and you don't need
to show ID when you're not goingto fill out a form or anything.
Just pop in whatever you need. And that's amazing all.
Right. Well now I'm going to talk to a
lady who was evacuated and she had to go and grab Pedro the cat
(11:08):
and Pedro decided to hide insidethe house.
That would be there's no way I could leave Pedro.
He's like a family member. That would be like leaving a
child behind. So I can understand.
He must have been frantic. She says it was the scariest
thing she's ever gone through. Well, that.
Thing of just at her house. It's OK.
Yeah, thank you so much for chatting to me and all the best.
Hopefully. I think we're supposed to get
(11:30):
more rain this week and actuallytowards the end of the week,
tons of rain actually, and there's 10 to 20 mils on I think
it's Friday. All fingers crossed.
Yeah. Thank you, Amy.
Thank you, have the good rest ofyour day.
All right, let's call Leanne now.
How you going, Rabbit? Oh.
I'm OK. How are you going?
Yeah, I'm pretty good. There's a lot of people worse
(11:51):
off than me when it's all said and done so.
Yeah, So where are you? Where's your place?
You got evacuated, so you must be pretty.
Close. I'm in Maura close which runs
off Glenrock. I don't have a map in front of
me. It's a little cul-de-sac, so
when they show it on the news, there's a couple of firings down
in the middle of a street and that's my street.
Oh, I know the, you know, it's really, as soon as you say that,
I feel like I've just been watching the same pictures over
(12:13):
the last like 24 hours or so. And so just you saying the
little cul-de-sac with the fire engines in it, I'm like, oh,
that one, OK. That's right.
Well, I'm renting where I am andI live on the top story of the
house and the guy underneath. I actually spoke with him today.
I ran into him when we're down. We went for a drive along there
with my daughter to see how things are, and I ran into him
just off at the station there, and he actually stayed.
(12:34):
And So what did you do? He said yeah, I stayed and
helped the firies for about fourhours.
He said no, we're familiar if I got in trouble because I should
have the firies now. The firies.
What are you still doing here, Marie Darwin?
Yeah. So what was that was 1
consolation that I knew know nowthat he was there.
Yeah, which was really but in hindsight, but he felt he wanted
(12:54):
to do that. So that's fine.
He was happy to do that. So the last house on the corner
as you sort of before our cul-de-sac that went.
So we actually saw those flames as we were leaving.
It was just So I said to him, I said, Alex, we've got to go.
There's there's flames right there.
And he said a little people. Oh, OK.
So the other neighbor was waiting for me.
I thought I'd grab Pedro and found him eventually in the
(13:15):
house. And I said we've got to go
because you don't know what, butthat must have went South and
that that house went. Like so, how many houses?
How many houses away from yours?Well, it's only like 3 houses
because we're in a little cul-de-sac.
Yeah, so like if it turned this,he said.
The fact that we were lower, he thinks, is what saved us.
Yeah, I saw a guy on the news actually saying that.
The reporter asked him, you know, are you worried with your
(13:36):
place being where it is and the fact that it's in the bushland
right behind you? And the guy went, no, not
really, because, you know, fire doesn't travel downhills, OK.
Yeah, I mean, and this one was travelling South as well.
So that was the thing it did. It obviously had jumped because
it was behind my place when I looked out there, 1:00 or
whatever it was when I got the app come up on my phone straight
away and I sent it to my neighborhood page, right.
(13:58):
The guy said like we have a of admin page that we talk amongst
ourselves and he said is there any smoke?
And I went no, don't think so. And I went outside and he said
go and grab a photo if there is.I said oh OK.
So I went out and I thought Oh yes, there is smoke, but it was
only a small, you know, bloom ofsmoke.
I thought it's OK, took a photo,come in, send it to him.
He said well this is a bit close.
So this is just around the corner from me basically in the
(14:19):
next street up. You know, I said they all back
onto the National Park there, sothe houses are all amongst the
trees there. It's terrible you know.
But within that 5 minutes my neighbor on the right hand side
had yelled out to me and said wehave to leave.
I was shocked. What, like watching it online
and on ABC News on the TV? Just how fast it all just took
(14:39):
off. So incredible.
I could not believe it. It was just like I went back out
again and had another look and it was just like this mountain
of smoke. So you found out from the app,
Yes. So what were you doing when the
notification popped up on your phone?
I only people like to sit down, have a beautiful Turkey and a
cranberry sauce sandwich roll. Oh nice.
I've been waiting an hour and a half to eat my lunch because I'd
been busy shopping. Just stocked up my food.
(15:00):
Now I've got no power. So that's all one by the way.
So then. Probably.
And then what happens? Like you, it just pops up as a
note. Yeah, comes up with another
patron and look, I get them all the time because it covers a
fairly wide area and to be quitehonest, I was getting a bit
blase about. Yeah, OK.
But they've got 1, the neighborhood page as well.
And I see all stuff happening all the time.
And you sort of get a bit, Oh yeah, now that's further away.
Look, that's at Palm Beach. That's not my area, you know.
(15:22):
And I think when it said to him,I thought, Oh my God, that's
around the corner. And I thought maybe it's a house
fire. And then I said no Bush fire.
I thought, oh, so that's when I sort of and.
Then do you start getting more notifications coming through or
are you just? Starting watching my whopping
here. It was just watch.
I think it was watch and act at that stage.
And it was, it was uncontrolled.That's what it was.
And that's when by the time I had left, I might search for
(15:42):
Pedro and spring the house down trying to find him.
Yeah, we'll get to Pedro in a minute.
Yeah. So time I'd left and drove up
the street and I pulled over at the station.
My daughter rang me there because I'd messaged her and
said we've got a fire and sent her a photo I took from the
station car park and it was justdreadful and he said mum just
come, go to our place, bring thecat and come to our place.
I said OK so started driving down the street and then the
police thought man said no you can't go any further.
(16:02):
I said sorry, I want to go to mydaughter.
'S house, they were seeing the shot of the train stopped on the
tracks there and fire beyond it and and all that and the roads
were closed so you just couldn'tgo along that road at all.
No, he said. You just gotta turn around.
You gotta go up to carry on, Go around the back way.
I went. Oh my God.
OK, I'll do that. You know, just to get away from
pretty. Amazing, really, that it didn't
spread up the hill to carry on. No, but they were worried about
(16:24):
that last night because it was up pretty high last night
because see, I take photos all the time and I didn't even stop
the I I did grab my camera because I thought was on the
table. I just grabbed that with my
handbag and the cat, but I didn't even stop to take photos.
You know I was. Too broad.
To think, because I basically said goodbye to the house when I
walked out the door, like really?
Yeah. I said I love you my home.
I said please stay safe. And that was all.
And I said goodbye. I said because I thought, and I
(16:44):
said to Alex, I said, Alex, we're going to lose this place.
It's going to go, you know, I said please don't stay, just
keep going. And my neighbors were waiting
for me to leave as well. And I just, yeah, I just, I just
go to my car. And they followed me up though
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you get all the stuff from them that you'd expect to you get
plans, you'd get all the Weber stuff, you get all the steel
(17:06):
gear, the amazing principal kitchens, but it's the stuff
that you don't expect like we. Had an elderly lady come into
the store and she brought her remote control from her
television and she didn't know how to get it to work.
And we opened it up and saw thatshe just needed new batteries.
And then she told me that her husband had recently passed away
so he was the one that did all that stuff for her and she
(17:28):
didn't have anybody around to dothat so she needed us.
So we took batteries out of the packet and put them in the
remote and we helped her out andmade her day.
That's what she get. And the mighty helpful King
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(17:49):
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Were you seeing people like saying goodbye to their houses
as they're leaving? Think well, they'd already left.
The people next door had alreadycome out of their house.
(18:33):
They were the ones that were a bit more organised than me
because they'd obviously seen something before I did and had
walked out and they've lived there like 8 or 9 years.
So they've I've only been there four years.
We've had reduction burns in there in the area before and had
smoke and always been wary of itin case they've been changes
etcetera. But this is the first time that
I've ever come back close to being involved in a, you know,
like with the Bush fire like that, it was just terrifying.
(18:55):
You've got no control over it. That's the whole thing.
And you can't say stop, it'll beanother 20 minutes.
I want to grab this with me. No, you don't have time.
So what did you grab? I grab my handbag, I have my
phone and I have my teeth, the cat in the basket and my camera.
Wait, what about the sandwich? No sandwich is still sitting on
the on the coffee table. Geez, don't have that now.
Yeah, that's it. You've gone through enough.
So right, let's get to Pedro. Because when you sent your
(19:16):
message through, you said that, you know, it was the scariest
thing you'd ever gone through. You had to run back inside and
try to find Pedro the cat who had decided to hide from you.
Oh. Seriously, because my cat basket
was down in my garage so I raceddown there and grabbed that.
I thought good, I'll get him. And normally he lays on the
lounge with me when I'm watchingTV or eating whatever he's on me
around. And some occasionally he will
just go and take himself off andjust on a knife cool spot the
(19:39):
double tea. So it was so hot yesterday and I
thought Pedro, come on Pedro andPedro I think, oh come on Pedro,
don't play, you know, the hide and seek game today.
We don't need it today. I was getting stressed then
because I thought I'm not going to go without him.
I couldn't be with myself if I had to leave and leave him
behind because he's my baby. And I thought, come on mate,
please just come out. Wherever you're hiding.
Just come out and I've got a whole.
(20:00):
Packet of he treats and just threw them up all the way on the
carpet thinking oh and always think about the lifetime when he
finally just sorted out like Oh yeah I'm here like now oh
classic and I've ragged by the scrap of it.
Chucked him in because he doesn't like going in the
basket. Chucked him in a carrier.
Hang on. This is so for a SEC, because
man, Pedro's gone through a bit.I was fully on your side and
(20:20):
going, oh that Pedro. But now I listen to this, right?
So from his perspective, he's just flying in a nice cool place
and then mum comes in yelling athim.
He's like, Nah, and then all hisfavorite treats get scattered
down the hallway and he goes, well, all right, I'll check this
out. Walks out, gets thrown in the
cat thing. The bus can take it away with no
(20:41):
treats. Oh, I took that tag of treats
with me. That's what I did take.
I took them with. All right then, not.
You Kim, More cat litter? No, nothing.
Thankfully my daughter took me shopping here, so we went and
got him a cat litter tray and some cat litter.
Yeah, she set up a wage in the bathroom for him, so he's got a
safe spot because she's got two dogs and two cats.
We had an 11 year old slumber party here last night as well.
Oh my God, now, now you know what?
(21:04):
I'm gonna start up some sort of GoFundMe or something for Pedro
now. Like Pedro's been through it.
An 11 year old slumber party at the end of all of that.
Yeah, there was four extra girlshere.
I mean, no one loved me. They had a good night.
That's the main thing. We didn't get any sleep, you
know, I don't think we're gonna get any sleep anyway.
We had so much on our mind so. So I was just hearing from Amy
before that it flared up again in the night.
And we went to drive last night at 10 over to Tesco and we stood
(21:27):
in the car park there and watched the flames.
And then even this morning, I went past again this morning.
So I had to go to battle by and feed some puppy dogs that I'm
looking after and there was still flames there then.
Like it was a lot more smoke andall the fire people coming into
that car park there, they've setup for the day, but we've had no
word about going back yet. Oh.
You can't go back. No, they won't let us across the
line. Apparently there's a worry about
(21:49):
asbestos in some of the houses as well.
They're worried about like some tree branches might fall if
they're damaged and things like that.
So I think they just want to make sure that all those spies
are actually out completely, because with this wind, it's
really risky. I mean, you send people back in
there and then it starts off again, gonna go through the
whole thing again, and you can'tput people through that again in
24 hours. That's just ridiculous.
Have they given you a timeline at all of when you might be able
(22:09):
to? Go No.
Well, at least, you know, I mean, those homes that are
completely gone, there's people.That have heartbreak lost
everything and before Christmas,like you know, I think that my
my daughter said please down in my house.
I went and gone Christmas shopping and all, and I'm not
gonna go through and try and follow those clothes and sizes.
Yes. Well, I mean, it's all the
little things are that you thinkof.
You just like to spend $10 on food yesterday morning to stock
(22:31):
my fridge and freeze them up forthe week.
And I thought now all the powersbut.
Yeah, right. So your power, it's been
switched off or you switched it off?
Or, but it's probably got, I think it probably got taken off
the emergency services for a start and like the wise we were
all burnt anyway. Yeah, right.
But they haven't. I think I said maybe 7:00
tonight, I don't know. Have you ever been through
anything like this before? No, I've been through a flooding
(22:53):
Coffs Harbour where our car was putting the flooding and my
garage burned down when I was a kid and we had our dogs in the
backyard. And that was pretty frightening
because we just moved my grandfather into the house that
I think he'd lost his wife and he sat in the lounge room and
didn't even know that the garagewas being burned.
You know, to a create. Yeah, he was oblivious to it
all. And for waked up and Jerry,
(23:13):
whenever you heard Fire angels, Mum and I would freeze because
you just you just remember the night, the panic that goes with
all and I would never have to gothrough something like that
again. But this was, it might have only
been like a 10 minute cycle of time, but even the drive from
there to my daughter's was the worst drive ever.
It just seemed to take forever. People were slow.
And I pulled up at Staples Lookout because there was so
(23:34):
many people there. I thought I was going to pull up
because I had people messaging me every 5 minutes.
I'm thinking I can't talk to you.
I'm driving, I can't talk. I'm like phone.
Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding. Yeah, that's freaking.
Out because they can't get hold of you.
Yeah. And then I put in, I mentioned,
I messaged a couple of people, said I'm on my way to my
daughter's, I'll talk then, you know, And then I got out and
there were so many people there taking photos.
And I took a photo of myself from the Staples lookout.
Yeah, but I was just about Pedrobeing in the car because it was
(23:57):
so damn. Hot, you're saying?
Yeah, it's hot for you, for all of us that, you know, just
generally on that day it was so hot.
And then look at those, the firies in all.
Of their gear and I know. Right in there fighting it up
close. I sent a prayer up to my dad and
my mum, or obviously both, you know, see, but my dad was a
firefighter and I sent a prayer up to him.
(24:18):
I said, Peter, please look afterthese places.
Please let us be able to come back home.
And I think that my daughter last night I said, you know
what? My prayers were answered, you
know, and so far, so, you know, so you just don't know why
someone's house gets chosen and someone's dolson.
It's just, you know. So how are you and Pedro going
today? Pedro did a disappearing act on
me about an hour ago. Well, I knew he had a heart
attack because he's in a crate in the bathroom and I'd let him
(24:40):
out and said to the girls beforethey'd left out open the
bathroom door because Pedro's inthere.
And I came up the upstairs afteryou messaged me actually, and
say you were going to call me and I come back upstairs to
check on him and he wasn't in the bathroom.
The bathroom door was open. So I went in to meltdown.
Oh my God, where's the gone? Where is he?
He's hiding and the kids come and help me find my beautiful
son-in-law. Opened up the cupboard.
(25:02):
He said Lee, he's just in here, behind here.
With a smirk on his face. My daughter said Mom let him go
back in there. He's happy in there.
He's safe. He feels safe.
Let him stay there, you know. Yeah, and how are you?
Yeah, I'm good. I feel better knowing my home is
still there. I really do love my home.
My home is my haven and I work hard for what I've got.
(25:23):
And there's some things you justcan't replace.
Rabs, you know, yourself. There's things you've got with
your kids. You can't replace photos and you
just can't replace all that stuff.
Yeah, you know, you can buy and buy a new dining suite and a new
bed and a new mattress, you know, and even clothes, you
know. But those mementos, I've got
stuff at my mum's and things like that, crockery and you
can't go and buy them again. And.
So sounds like you didn't have ago bag.
No. And you know what I've always
(25:44):
told people? Make sure you're prepared.
Yeah, in an emergency. And I I only thought to myself,
not just recently. Oh, I must get a little bag
together just in case I ever have to leave here in a hurry.
And when I was leaving I was like, Land, you're an idiot, you
should have had yourself better organised than me.
And I just felt like I was panicking because I hadn't got
myself organised and I felt bad for my.
And that's not what? Yeah.
What you want at that time, right?
(26:04):
There's one. Yeah, yeah, no, we've, we did
it. We last night we started even
though it's, we were certainly hoping it wasn't going to head
our way at all. It was kind of like, well, our
place is surrounded by bushland,so it wouldn't have to be
related to that one at all. It could happen at any time.
So yeah, we started putting together our tubs with our
things and everything will just stay in those and sit in one
(26:26):
room if it ever were to happen. And then we've got a list, we
made a list as well of the things that can't stay in the
tubs, like dog food or whatever,but just things to tick off is
just quickly grab these things. That's where it's at.
If you've got other people with you, you can say like you grab
that, you grab that. But with me, it was a matter of
what can I carry in my hands now?
I raced down and put a couple ofthings in the car and then raced
back up and got him in the in the basket because I cannot just
(26:49):
carry him on his. He stand heavy like he's a big
cat. So were you told to get out or
you just? Well, actually the neighbor must
have got told because when I spoke to Alex today, he said
that they did a door knight. I said well I didn't, they
didn't knock on my door. He said no, they must have
knocked on it and there was a car in the cul-de-sac and he was
waiting until we all left. So I think he must have come
down and said something to my neighbor next door and she just
(27:09):
yelled at them downstairs and I said well she's got to leave.
And that's when I realised how bad I'd gotten and just in those
few minutes so. But I'm having my sandwich.
I know Jeopardy on that. I keep it.
Look, you described it really well.
It sounded like it was gonna be an amazing sandwich.
And you know it's still there for you when you get back.
Oh, well, at least you and Pedroare safe.
(27:31):
Of course, we're thinking of everyone else in that area.
Who's lost? I love the wild blood and that's
one of the best outcomes we can possibly hope for.
Yeah. And I think I really, I mean
both of you that I've just spoken to, you got the
notification from that app. What's the app called?
Hazards near me. Hazards near me.
Flood, fire, Yeah. Anything like that?
Well. That's right.
We installed it last night 'cause I said to Sav, That's
(27:52):
right, yeah, 'cause it was popping up on the news and I was
like, oh, we should, we should get that.
And I said to Sav. Oh, no.
What if you install the Hazards near Me app and it just pops up
with like me as a hazard near you?
Like everyone, just each suburb I enter.
Oh, Lookout. So no, we've got it installed
now so that I think that's a good take away for everyone is
(28:15):
the the go bag stuff and the hazards near me because that
really does give you a heads up before anything.
A good lesson learned, yeah, thehard way, unfortunately.
Yeah, hi, all the best and take care and thanks so much for
chatting. To me about it, no.
I appreciate it. You look after yourself too.
Bye bye. Thanks.
Wow. Well there we go.
Thanks so much to Amy and Leannefor chatting to me.
(28:38):
There were others as well that Idid have contact details for in
the area. Understandably, they weren't
really up for having a chat. It was all just way too close to
home literally for them at the time.
So hopefully you've got something out of this today with
just getting yourself prepared and ready in case of and
hopefully you and your loved ones and all the things that you
(29:01):
love can stay safe going forwardas well.
Hey, next week's episode of the podcast, I'm recording with a
psychologist this week. He's from the Reed Clinic, works
with Heather Irvine Randall, who's so flat out and hard to
get hold of the moment. She said you might want to have
a chat to him about overload stress, that overwhelming
(29:21):
feeling that so many of us are going through at the moment.
Me, I'm one of them as well. We'll get some tips and tricks
and things, understand why we feel like this at this time of.
With Rabbit. I'm Rabbit.
I record this podcast inside a cute little retro caravan from
1967 that I've tore around all over the place.
Fan podcast with Rabbit. Well, hey there and welcome into
this episode, which is going to be a very different one from
what we usually do. I am recording this from inside
my cave, which is buried underneath my house.
(00:27):
It's like the Bat cave but with less cool.
Actually, no, it's going to say less cool toys.
Are you kidding me? As I look around here at the
amount of cool toys like Batman would look at my cave and go oh
he's got one of those walking pad treadmills that fit
underneath your desk. Alfred.
I was actually going to say thisis going to be quite a different
tone to this one because of the subject matter, but I've started
(00:49):
off comparing my cave to Batman's look over the weekend.
It was crazy man. The fires in Cooluong they just
look it started so quick and it escalated even quicker.
My so my place where about 7 KS from Cooluong.
I know that because I looked it up on the maps because if the
wind turned southerly from whereit was, then that was heading
(01:11):
our way. Walking outside at any point,
there were multi choppers and planes going over the top, going
back, refilling, going and dumping more water.
And it was scary, man. Watching it on the news on TV
and photos and videos and thingson social media and knowing that
there's just down the road and actually I'd only been down
there. I went for a run around the
waterfront round by Pointe Claire like 6 hours before all
(01:33):
of this started. So yeah, it was just, it was a
very weird moment. I think the closest we've come
to that sort of feeling was 2019going into 20 through that
summer and the fires weren't actually that close to our
place, but the sky was just fullof ash.
It was like settling all over the deck and we had all our go
bags ready to go with all the passports and change of clothes
(01:56):
and all those things you need tohave.
Yeah, the weekend brought all ofthat back.
So in this episode, we're going to chat to a couple of people
who were directly affected by it.
We know at least 12 homes have been lost, and the same that
number might still rise. Behind all of those numbers, of
course, is a person, is a familyand a really scary moment as
(02:17):
well. So this podcast, you know,
someone asked me about six months ago, you know, what's the
podcast all about? And I didn't come up with this.
Someone else did when I was describing it to them.
And she goes, oh, so it's about people's stories.
And I was like, yeah, yeah, that's it.
So we're going to get a couple of stories from people who were
right in the middle of it today.One who had to make the
(02:37):
terrifying choice to evacuate while looking around for Pedro.
He's a cat and he's Spanish. And we'll get to her in just a
SEC, but we're going to start with one that's.
Hello, Amy speaking. Amy, it's Rabbit.
Hi, how are you? Good.
How are you doing? Yeah, pretty scared, but good.
'Cause you weren't even home forit, right?
So where do you live? I live at Tascott, OK.
(02:58):
And so I was just about to leaveto go to Jimmy Barnes and then I
get all hazards near you at shows up Bush fire 1 kilometre
away. So you already had the app on
the phone? I already had the app and I have
watched zone set up. Is that because of previous
things around your area? Yes, well, I used to live in
Carry On and I'd lived there for20 years and we had four major
(03:18):
fires where I got evacuated up there.
Oh wow. But it's not like new to me, but
it doesn't not scare me every time.
So you didn't know anything about the fires at all at the
point when it you're like, you're about to head off to
Jimmy Barnes and the thing pops up on your phone.
Yes. And then I go outside and I can
see flames. Oh no.
And then at the decision, the tickets for $183 each.
(03:41):
Do you go? Do you stay?
What do I do? My children are at their dad's
for the weekend. What do I do?
Do I stay? Do I go?
So I grabbed their favorite teddies, I grabbed the birth
certificates, threw them in my friend's car, and then 'cause I
thought, I'm not a firefighter, there's nothing I can do anyway.
OK, so I downloaded a list from online yesterday and then
(04:01):
tweaked it all with with other things 'cause it didn't have all
of Harley's favorite toys on thelist by default.
That's important, I know. Yeah.
And so we started going through that, but when you're like right
in that moment, so you've grabbed the favorite teddies.
Yeah. And that's the thing.
I was talking to Seth about it yesterday, going she's like,
what other things should we put in?
I guess just the irreplaceable things, I think.
And then we're going, well, whatare those?
(04:22):
What? What are they like?
You know, I've got photos from when I was a child.
They're not on phones, they're in photo albums.
So you threw a few things in thecar and then you left.
So you'd looked on the app and it shows you that it's not like
right by your house? It said it was 1 kilometre away.
Oh. Man, yeah.
And I'm like, everything's pretty much replaceable.
(04:42):
They're just things. Let's just get out of here.
We'll be out of the way. We'll be safe.
Let's just. Go and so how did you keep up to
date on what was happening even it's.
Incredibly difficult because in the Hunter the Internet was
really sketchy and I've got everyone reaching out to me and
I can't check anything. I can't check my cameras, I
can't check the apps, I can't check Facebook, nothing.
(05:02):
You're talking like security cameras at the house.
Yes, yes. Wait, so you went to the Jimmy
Barnes concert? I went to the Jimmy Barnes
concert. Are you constantly trying to
check on your phone? In between each song I would be
getting back on again and the Internet would be like, Yep, you
can have a little bit of Internet now and then
hypotheculate. No, no more Internet for the
next 10 minute. And so how were you getting
(05:22):
updates? Was there anyone else from
around the area that you know that you're able to hear from?
No, most of my friends live in Carry On, but that's where I
lived for 20 years and they're suddenly going, oh, it's headed
towards office. It's in the Mill Perry trail, so
they're freaking out. So I'm thinking, well, at least
that's a waste for me. I was a little bit more secure
in the knowledge that the fire wasn't coming my way.
(05:44):
Far out, man. I'm just picturing like, what's
going through your head At some point were you thinking, you
know, if that turns, you could just lose everything?
Yes. Most definitely.
And the other issue I have were people were like, you can't get
home, They're shut all the roadsnear your house.
Yeah, right. Then I'm thinking, do I get my
friend to drop me like a kilometer away and I walk home?
(06:06):
Yeah, So what did you do? So wait, First off, how was the
concert? It was amazing.
Kate Sobrano, Ian Moss, Ice House.
Jimmy Barnes. Did they make any reference to
it or anything? Did they know?
No, they didn't. And then about 8:00, when Jimmy
Barnes was just about to come on, I'm honestly sure it was a
mini cyclone came through and weall almost got damaged.
(06:27):
The cameras almost fell off on top of us and they sent us all
back to our cars and I'm just like, what a day.
What? Is going on.
Sound Cycling. So what time was that you say
about 8:00 last night about? 8:00 Yeah.
So they postponed the concert and said, everyone go back to
your cars and we'll let you knowwhen it's gonna start again.
I'm trying to. Think what time it was but on
Saturday night at it was still light so but only just I don't
(06:51):
know maybe around 7:00 or something 'cause I we only live
like 7 KS from where the fires were and it poured down at our
place like torrential downpour. Do you know if it rains around
your place? Yes, I saw my cameras when I got
home 'cause I was checking the cameras.
It really, really rained. Yeah.
And so when you left the concert, so you're you knew then
(07:14):
that your house was OK. Yes, I was pretty confident my
house was OK. Yeah.
So we drove home and it took 3 hours to get home.
And then normally it's an hour and a half drive because we
couldn't get out of the concert.And then we got home about 1:32
AM Yeah, and we could see the file as we're driving through
Pointe Claire. You could just see it and it was
the fire. Was still going.
(07:34):
It was still going, so I dumped in my car and I went down to the
Cooliwong foreshore just to see if I could see and I watched it
start up again at 1:30 this morning.
Oh, I didn't know that. And I spoke to the lovely
Fieries like they were just so lovely and they had started at
11:00 PM, so they were just having a little bit of a break.
And they said, look, we're just watching at the moment.
(07:54):
We're not that worried about it.But she said make sure you keep
your bag. You go bag by your door.
Keep watching that app. Yeah, I mean, we set up our bags
and everything yesterday. We've got our go bags all
sorted, our go tubs actually. So everyone often got some tubs
because even though we're not that close, I mean if the wind
did swung around it, it blows the embers so far.
But it was also just the fact that even completely unrelated
(08:17):
to that fire over there where welive, we're surrounded by
bushland like all around the house.
And it's just that day was so hot and dry and yeah, it
wouldn't take much. Not much at all.
And I actually saw on Facebook there was a little fire at
Springfield last night. So it's really a case of just
being ready, having those thingsready to go if you have to and.
(08:41):
Then this morning I've got broken out by helicopters just
constantly going around my house.
I thought I heard more helicopters going again this
morning, so I really would have thought that rain last night
would have extinguished everything.
I would have thought so too. When I saw it on the camera it
was like they have really rainedhere but no wasn't enough.
So you got home at what, like 2:00 in the morning?
(09:02):
Yes. And there was people everywhere
at like 132 o'clock this morning, just people walking the
street, standing there chatting to neighbors.
Everyone was just out watching and they're all scared.
Scared. Yeah, there was a lot of
sleepless nights. Yeah.
Oh, yeah. I mean, if you're in that area,
how do you even get to sleep thinking if it turns, which it
(09:23):
can do and it does, yes. With the wind, yeah.
And, and again, like I said, it doesn't even take the wind.
It could just a new one can start up somewhere else when
it's so dry like that. Oh, man.
So what does this mean for you now?
Anything change now? I'm going to stay home today
just in case. It's very windy here today and
I'm just going to be careful andwatch.
(09:44):
I might go get the green bin outand fill it with some junk.
What do you mean? When you leave the Bush, there's
so many sticks, so many leaves, all the kind of fuel that fires
love. So you're gonna like.
Do a clean up. Around the place and put it all
into the bin. Yes, I am.
That's right. Thanks so much for filling us
in. Well, that's people.
(10:04):
I just can't imagine the heartache that those people are
going through to lose their homes and all their memories and
it's. Just my heart's just.
Breaking for them. Yeah, there was one I was just
looking at just before Tony and Claudia Stellino that have lost
their home of 18 years. Wow, that would have so much in
there that you can't replace. Yeah.
(10:25):
Wow. Oh my God, glad you're OK.
Glad your house is OK. Obviously thinking of everyone
else that's caught up in it all as well.
And geez, those fieries and the SES and all of them, all these
volunteers working all through the night.
And I was. Talking to them last night.
Thank you. Thank you for all that you do.
We absolutely appreciate you. Amazing.
It's times like these when the community like really comes
(10:45):
together. I was seeing all these posts
from like businesses that were like cafes and that saying any,
you know, first responders or SES or anyway you come down, it
won't cost you anything for food, drink and you don't need
to show ID when you're not goingto fill out a form or anything.
Just pop in whatever you need. And that's amazing all.
Right. Well now I'm going to talk to a
lady who was evacuated and she had to go and grab Pedro the cat
(11:08):
and Pedro decided to hide insidethe house.
That would be there's no way I could leave Pedro.
He's like a family member. That would be like leaving a
child behind. So I can understand.
He must have been frantic. She says it was the scariest
thing she's ever gone through. Well, that.
Thing of just at her house. It's OK.
Yeah, thank you so much for chatting to me and all the best.
Hopefully. I think we're supposed to get
(11:30):
more rain this week and actuallytowards the end of the week,
tons of rain actually, and there's 10 to 20 mils on I think
it's Friday. All fingers crossed.
Yeah. Thank you, Amy.
Thank you, have the good rest ofyour day.
All right, let's call Leanne now.
How you going, Rabbit? Oh.
I'm OK. How are you going?
Yeah, I'm pretty good. There's a lot of people worse
(11:51):
off than me when it's all said and done so.
Yeah, So where are you? Where's your place?
You got evacuated, so you must be pretty.
Close. I'm in Maura close which runs
off Glenrock. I don't have a map in front of
me. It's a little cul-de-sac, so
when they show it on the news, there's a couple of firings down
in the middle of a street and that's my street.
Oh, I know the, you know, it's really, as soon as you say that,
I feel like I've just been watching the same pictures over
(12:13):
the last like 24 hours or so. And so just you saying the
little cul-de-sac with the fire engines in it, I'm like, oh,
that one, OK. That's right.
Well, I'm renting where I am andI live on the top story of the
house and the guy underneath. I actually spoke with him today.
I ran into him when we're down. We went for a drive along there
with my daughter to see how things are, and I ran into him
just off at the station there, and he actually stayed.
(12:34):
And So what did you do? He said yeah, I stayed and
helped the firies for about fourhours.
He said no, we're familiar if I got in trouble because I should
have the firies now. The firies.
What are you still doing here, Marie Darwin?
Yeah. So what was that was 1
consolation that I knew know nowthat he was there.
Yeah, which was really but in hindsight, but he felt he wanted
(12:54):
to do that. So that's fine.
He was happy to do that. So the last house on the corner
as you sort of before our cul-de-sac that went.
So we actually saw those flames as we were leaving.
It was just So I said to him, I said, Alex, we've got to go.
There's there's flames right there.
And he said a little people. Oh, OK.
So the other neighbor was waiting for me.
I thought I'd grab Pedro and found him eventually in the
(13:15):
house. And I said we've got to go
because you don't know what, butthat must have went South and
that that house went. Like so, how many houses?
How many houses away from yours?Well, it's only like 3 houses
because we're in a little cul-de-sac.
Yeah, so like if it turned this,he said.
The fact that we were lower, he thinks, is what saved us.
Yeah, I saw a guy on the news actually saying that.
The reporter asked him, you know, are you worried with your
(13:36):
place being where it is and the fact that it's in the bushland
right behind you? And the guy went, no, not
really, because, you know, fire doesn't travel downhills, OK.
Yeah, I mean, and this one was travelling South as well.
So that was the thing it did. It obviously had jumped because
it was behind my place when I looked out there, 1:00 or
whatever it was when I got the app come up on my phone straight
away and I sent it to my neighborhood page, right.
(13:58):
The guy said like we have a of admin page that we talk amongst
ourselves and he said is there any smoke?
And I went no, don't think so. And I went outside and he said
go and grab a photo if there is.I said oh OK.
So I went out and I thought Oh yes, there is smoke, but it was
only a small, you know, bloom ofsmoke.
I thought it's OK, took a photo,come in, send it to him.
He said well this is a bit close.
So this is just around the corner from me basically in the
(14:19):
next street up. You know, I said they all back
onto the National Park there, sothe houses are all amongst the
trees there. It's terrible you know.
But within that 5 minutes my neighbor on the right hand side
had yelled out to me and said wehave to leave.
I was shocked. What, like watching it online
and on ABC News on the TV? Just how fast it all just took
(14:39):
off. So incredible.
I could not believe it. It was just like I went back out
again and had another look and it was just like this mountain
of smoke. So you found out from the app,
Yes. So what were you doing when the
notification popped up on your phone?
I only people like to sit down, have a beautiful Turkey and a
cranberry sauce sandwich roll. Oh nice.
I've been waiting an hour and a half to eat my lunch because I'd
been busy shopping. Just stocked up my food.
(15:00):
Now I've got no power. So that's all one by the way.
So then. Probably.
And then what happens? Like you, it just pops up as a
note. Yeah, comes up with another
patron and look, I get them all the time because it covers a
fairly wide area and to be quitehonest, I was getting a bit
blase about. Yeah, OK.
But they've got 1, the neighborhood page as well.
And I see all stuff happening all the time.
And you sort of get a bit, Oh yeah, now that's further away.
Look, that's at Palm Beach. That's not my area, you know.
(15:22):
And I think when it said to him,I thought, Oh my God, that's
around the corner. And I thought maybe it's a house
fire. And then I said no Bush fire.
I thought, oh, so that's when I sort of and.
Then do you start getting more notifications coming through or
are you just? Starting watching my whopping
here. It was just watch.
I think it was watch and act at that stage.
And it was, it was uncontrolled.That's what it was.
And that's when by the time I had left, I might search for
(15:42):
Pedro and spring the house down trying to find him.
Yeah, we'll get to Pedro in a minute.
Yeah. So time I'd left and drove up
the street and I pulled over at the station.
My daughter rang me there because I'd messaged her and
said we've got a fire and sent her a photo I took from the
station car park and it was justdreadful and he said mum just
come, go to our place, bring thecat and come to our place.
I said OK so started driving down the street and then the
police thought man said no you can't go any further.
(16:02):
I said sorry, I want to go to mydaughter.
'S house, they were seeing the shot of the train stopped on the
tracks there and fire beyond it and and all that and the roads
were closed so you just couldn'tgo along that road at all.
No, he said. You just gotta turn around.
You gotta go up to carry on, Go around the back way.
I went. Oh my God.
OK, I'll do that. You know, just to get away from
pretty. Amazing, really, that it didn't
spread up the hill to carry on. No, but they were worried about
(16:24):
that last night because it was up pretty high last night
because see, I take photos all the time and I didn't even stop
the I I did grab my camera because I thought was on the
table. I just grabbed that with my
handbag and the cat, but I didn't even stop to take photos.
You know I was. Too broad.
To think, because I basically said goodbye to the house when I
walked out the door, like really?
Yeah. I said I love you my home.
I said please stay safe. And that was all.
And I said goodbye. I said because I thought, and I
(16:44):
said to Alex, I said, Alex, we're going to lose this place.
It's going to go, you know, I said please don't stay, just
keep going. And my neighbors were waiting
for me to leave as well. And I just, yeah, I just, I just
go to my car. And they followed me up though
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And then she told me that her husband had recently passed away
so he was the one that did all that stuff for her and she
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Were you seeing people like saying goodbye to their houses
as they're leaving? Think well, they'd already left.
The people next door had alreadycome out of their house.
(18:33):
They were the ones that were a bit more organised than me
because they'd obviously seen something before I did and had
walked out and they've lived there like 8 or 9 years.
So they've I've only been there four years.
We've had reduction burns in there in the area before and had
smoke and always been wary of itin case they've been changes
etcetera. But this is the first time that
I've ever come back close to being involved in a, you know,
like with the Bush fire like that, it was just terrifying.
(18:55):
You've got no control over it. That's the whole thing.
And you can't say stop, it'll beanother 20 minutes.
I want to grab this with me. No, you don't have time.
So what did you grab? I grab my handbag, I have my
phone and I have my teeth, the cat in the basket and my camera.
Wait, what about the sandwich? No sandwich is still sitting on
the on the coffee table. Geez, don't have that now.
Yeah, that's it. You've gone through enough.
So right, let's get to Pedro. Because when you sent your
(19:16):
message through, you said that, you know, it was the scariest
thing you'd ever gone through. You had to run back inside and
try to find Pedro the cat who had decided to hide from you.
Oh. Seriously, because my cat basket
was down in my garage so I raceddown there and grabbed that.
I thought good, I'll get him. And normally he lays on the
lounge with me when I'm watchingTV or eating whatever he's on me
around. And some occasionally he will
just go and take himself off andjust on a knife cool spot the
(19:39):
double tea. So it was so hot yesterday and I
thought Pedro, come on Pedro andPedro I think, oh come on Pedro,
don't play, you know, the hide and seek game today.
We don't need it today. I was getting stressed then
because I thought I'm not going to go without him.
I couldn't be with myself if I had to leave and leave him
behind because he's my baby. And I thought, come on mate,
please just come out. Wherever you're hiding.
Just come out and I've got a whole.
(20:00):
Packet of he treats and just threw them up all the way on the
carpet thinking oh and always think about the lifetime when he
finally just sorted out like Oh yeah I'm here like now oh
classic and I've ragged by the scrap of it.
Chucked him in because he doesn't like going in the
basket. Chucked him in a carrier.
Hang on. This is so for a SEC, because
man, Pedro's gone through a bit.I was fully on your side and
(20:20):
going, oh that Pedro. But now I listen to this, right?
So from his perspective, he's just flying in a nice cool place
and then mum comes in yelling athim.
He's like, Nah, and then all hisfavorite treats get scattered
down the hallway and he goes, well, all right, I'll check this
out. Walks out, gets thrown in the
cat thing. The bus can take it away with no
(20:41):
treats. Oh, I took that tag of treats
with me. That's what I did take.
I took them with. All right then, not.
You Kim, More cat litter? No, nothing.
Thankfully my daughter took me shopping here, so we went and
got him a cat litter tray and some cat litter.
Yeah, she set up a wage in the bathroom for him, so he's got a
safe spot because she's got two dogs and two cats.
We had an 11 year old slumber party here last night as well.
Oh my God, now, now you know what?
(21:04):
I'm gonna start up some sort of GoFundMe or something for Pedro
now. Like Pedro's been through it.
An 11 year old slumber party at the end of all of that.
Yeah, there was four extra girlshere.
I mean, no one loved me. They had a good night.
That's the main thing. We didn't get any sleep, you
know, I don't think we're gonna get any sleep anyway.
We had so much on our mind so. So I was just hearing from Amy
before that it flared up again in the night.
And we went to drive last night at 10 over to Tesco and we stood
(21:27):
in the car park there and watched the flames.
And then even this morning, I went past again this morning.
So I had to go to battle by and feed some puppy dogs that I'm
looking after and there was still flames there then.
Like it was a lot more smoke andall the fire people coming into
that car park there, they've setup for the day, but we've had no
word about going back yet. Oh.
You can't go back. No, they won't let us across the
line. Apparently there's a worry about
(21:49):
asbestos in some of the houses as well.
They're worried about like some tree branches might fall if
they're damaged and things like that.
So I think they just want to make sure that all those spies
are actually out completely, because with this wind, it's
really risky. I mean, you send people back in
there and then it starts off again, gonna go through the
whole thing again, and you can'tput people through that again in
24 hours. That's just ridiculous.
Have they given you a timeline at all of when you might be able
(22:09):
to? Go No.
Well, at least, you know, I mean, those homes that are
completely gone, there's people.That have heartbreak lost
everything and before Christmas,like you know, I think that my
my daughter said please down in my house.
I went and gone Christmas shopping and all, and I'm not
gonna go through and try and follow those clothes and sizes.
Yes. Well, I mean, it's all the
little things are that you thinkof.
You just like to spend $10 on food yesterday morning to stock
(22:31):
my fridge and freeze them up forthe week.
And I thought now all the powersbut.
Yeah, right. So your power, it's been
switched off or you switched it off?
Or, but it's probably got, I think it probably got taken off
the emergency services for a start and like the wise we were
all burnt anyway. Yeah, right.
But they haven't. I think I said maybe 7:00
tonight, I don't know. Have you ever been through
anything like this before? No, I've been through a flooding
(22:53):
Coffs Harbour where our car was putting the flooding and my
garage burned down when I was a kid and we had our dogs in the
backyard. And that was pretty frightening
because we just moved my grandfather into the house that
I think he'd lost his wife and he sat in the lounge room and
didn't even know that the garagewas being burned.
You know, to a create. Yeah, he was oblivious to it
all. And for waked up and Jerry,
(23:13):
whenever you heard Fire angels, Mum and I would freeze because
you just you just remember the night, the panic that goes with
all and I would never have to gothrough something like that
again. But this was, it might have only
been like a 10 minute cycle of time, but even the drive from
there to my daughter's was the worst drive ever.
It just seemed to take forever. People were slow.
And I pulled up at Staples Lookout because there was so
(23:34):
many people there. I thought I was going to pull up
because I had people messaging me every 5 minutes.
I'm thinking I can't talk to you.
I'm driving, I can't talk. I'm like phone.
Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding. Yeah, that's freaking.
Out because they can't get hold of you.
Yeah. And then I put in, I mentioned,
I messaged a couple of people, said I'm on my way to my
daughter's, I'll talk then, you know, And then I got out and
there were so many people there taking photos.
And I took a photo of myself from the Staples lookout.
Yeah, but I was just about Pedrobeing in the car because it was
(23:57):
so damn. Hot, you're saying?
Yeah, it's hot for you, for all of us that, you know, just
generally on that day it was so hot.
And then look at those, the firies in all.
Of their gear and I know. Right in there fighting it up
close. I sent a prayer up to my dad and
my mum, or obviously both, you know, see, but my dad was a
firefighter and I sent a prayer up to him.
(24:18):
I said, Peter, please look afterthese places.
Please let us be able to come back home.
And I think that my daughter last night I said, you know
what? My prayers were answered, you
know, and so far, so, you know, so you just don't know why
someone's house gets chosen and someone's dolson.
It's just, you know. So how are you and Pedro going
today? Pedro did a disappearing act on
me about an hour ago. Well, I knew he had a heart
attack because he's in a crate in the bathroom and I'd let him
(24:40):
out and said to the girls beforethey'd left out open the
bathroom door because Pedro's inthere.
And I came up the upstairs afteryou messaged me actually, and
say you were going to call me and I come back upstairs to
check on him and he wasn't in the bathroom.
The bathroom door was open. So I went in to meltdown.
Oh my God, where's the gone? Where is he?
He's hiding and the kids come and help me find my beautiful
son-in-law. Opened up the cupboard.
(25:02):
He said Lee, he's just in here, behind here.
With a smirk on his face. My daughter said Mom let him go
back in there. He's happy in there.
He's safe. He feels safe.
Let him stay there, you know. Yeah, and how are you?
Yeah, I'm good. I feel better knowing my home is
still there. I really do love my home.
My home is my haven and I work hard for what I've got.
(25:23):
And there's some things you justcan't replace.
Rabs, you know, yourself. There's things you've got with
your kids. You can't replace photos and you
just can't replace all that stuff.
Yeah, you know, you can buy and buy a new dining suite and a new
bed and a new mattress, you know, and even clothes, you
know. But those mementos, I've got
stuff at my mum's and things like that, crockery and you
can't go and buy them again. And.
So sounds like you didn't have ago bag.
No. And you know what I've always
(25:44):
told people? Make sure you're prepared.
Yeah, in an emergency. And I I only thought to myself,
not just recently. Oh, I must get a little bag
together just in case I ever have to leave here in a hurry.
And when I was leaving I was like, Land, you're an idiot, you
should have had yourself better organised than me.
And I just felt like I was panicking because I hadn't got
myself organised and I felt bad for my.
And that's not what? Yeah.
What you want at that time, right?
(26:04):
There's one. Yeah, yeah, no, we've, we did
it. We last night we started even
though it's, we were certainly hoping it wasn't going to head
our way at all. It was kind of like, well, our
place is surrounded by bushland,so it wouldn't have to be
related to that one at all. It could happen at any time.
So yeah, we started putting together our tubs with our
things and everything will just stay in those and sit in one
(26:26):
room if it ever were to happen. And then we've got a list, we
made a list as well of the things that can't stay in the
tubs, like dog food or whatever,but just things to tick off is
just quickly grab these things. That's where it's at.
If you've got other people with you, you can say like you grab
that, you grab that. But with me, it was a matter of
what can I carry in my hands now?
I raced down and put a couple ofthings in the car and then raced
back up and got him in the in the basket because I cannot just
(26:49):
carry him on his. He stand heavy like he's a big
cat. So were you told to get out or
you just? Well, actually the neighbor must
have got told because when I spoke to Alex today, he said
that they did a door knight. I said well I didn't, they
didn't knock on my door. He said no, they must have
knocked on it and there was a car in the cul-de-sac and he was
waiting until we all left. So I think he must have come
down and said something to my neighbor next door and she just
(27:09):
yelled at them downstairs and I said well she's got to leave.
And that's when I realised how bad I'd gotten and just in those
few minutes so. But I'm having my sandwich.
I know Jeopardy on that. I keep it.
Look, you described it really well.
It sounded like it was gonna be an amazing sandwich.
And you know it's still there for you when you get back.
Oh, well, at least you and Pedroare safe.
(27:31):
Of course, we're thinking of everyone else in that area.
Who's lost? I love the wild blood and that's
one of the best outcomes we can possibly hope for.
Yeah. And I think I really, I mean
both of you that I've just spoken to, you got the
notification from that app. What's the app called?
Hazards near me. Hazards near me.
Flood, fire, Yeah. Anything like that?
Well. That's right.
We installed it last night 'cause I said to Sav, That's
(27:52):
right, yeah, 'cause it was popping up on the news and I was
like, oh, we should, we should get that.
And I said to Sav. Oh, no.
What if you install the Hazards near Me app and it just pops up
with like me as a hazard near you?
Like everyone, just each suburb I enter.
Oh, Lookout. So no, we've got it installed
now so that I think that's a good take away for everyone is
(28:15):
the the go bag stuff and the hazards near me because that
really does give you a heads up before anything.
A good lesson learned, yeah, thehard way, unfortunately.
Yeah, hi, all the best and take care and thanks so much for
chatting. To me about it, no.
I appreciate it. You look after yourself too.
Bye bye. Thanks.
Wow. Well there we go.
Thanks so much to Amy and Leannefor chatting to me.
(28:38):
There were others as well that Idid have contact details for in
the area. Understandably, they weren't
really up for having a chat. It was all just way too close to
home literally for them at the time.
So hopefully you've got something out of this today with
just getting yourself prepared and ready in case of and
hopefully you and your loved ones and all the things that you
(29:01):
love can stay safe going forwardas well.
Hey, next week's episode of the podcast, I'm recording with a
psychologist this week. He's from the Reed Clinic, works
with Heather Irvine Randall, who's so flat out and hard to
get hold of the moment. She said you might want to have
a chat to him about overload stress, that overwhelming
(29:21):
feeling that so many of us are going through at the moment.
Me, I'm one of them as well. We'll get some tips and tricks
and things, understand why we feel like this at this time of.
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