Remember and Stand tall.
Remember
December 2019 will be remembered for many things by many people. Some will have the happiest of memories leading up to a planned Christmas break, whilst other will have sorrow and trauma etched within their minds, likely forever. We will remember this date as all should. For the significance is overwhelming. Specifically, December 20 is a day the horror began.
Cast your minds back to one of South Australia's most devastating bushfires. The Cudlee Creek fires would begin due to a fallen pine tree impacting a powerline before extreme weather conditions in SA's summer threw absolute chaos within the hills. Strong winds and skyrocketing temperatures would fan a catastrophe of massive proportions. The fires would rage onward through the remainder of 2019 finishing it's warpath into early 2020.
The word trauma can be thrown around by many. But, in reality, those directly impacted by the fires, losing everything they own, including animals and pets should lay claim to this term when describing their emotions. For many many things perished during this ravenous episode, including a human life, multiple households and everything within, and numbers of wildlife, reptiles, pets and farm animals. Whilst we here at Furever Farm were impacted, we consider ourselves lucky compared to those who couldn't escape.
Cudlee Creek is approximately 67 kms from us here at Rockleigh. This number will be of major significance later as we talk about our impactedness. The fires and the media coverage were extensive. Nobody in South Australia, or Australia to be fair, could have said they did not know of Cudlee Creek. The horror hot spell of that December was bad enough, let alone the knowledge of a major emergency and cataclysmic fire. We have always said that when temperatures reach fire danger levels, we do not leave the sanctuary, purely for the animals. Our infrastructure is of no concern. If the worst were ever to happen, that can be rebuilt as insurance is claimed. But, the lives of the animals are our promise, our obligation and dedication. During the fires we were in contact with people we knew within the brilliant CFS. Stick tight was always the advice. As the fire would progress, and rage throughout its eventual 127 km perimeter, advise from our CFS source suddenly became prepare to evacuate as strong blistering winds and heat had pushed the fire in the direction of Rockleigh.
Many of our supporters, our wonderful community family who have followed us for many years will recall our next necessary step. Again, in consultation with the CFS, we would be told that if we were thinking of evacuating to do it now! Okay, the figure mentioned before strikes home it's significance. A fire that began 67kms from the sanctuary had reached a mere 5kms with strong winds pushing it in this direction. The skies during this time were akin to Armageddon. As we looked upwards they were painted orange red from raging flames and burning embers only 5 kms away. We did not have to think twice about our next move. When you are gifted time you grasp it with two hands. We immediately jumped on our social media and called for help in evacuating, hopefully, all of the sanctuary animals. We phoned our family of volunteers, friends, family, anyone we could think of who could possibly assist in such a huge operation. Our calls would be heard as a lot of beautiful people would come from afar, some we had never met before, and began the stressful task of moving a sanctuary of animals. We even formed stronger bonds as a friend would hand deliver food all the way from Adelaide knowing the hot long days all were having.
We must stress, we were lucky. To have advice given regularly, to have time, we are by no means ever to suggest we had it worse than anybody else. This is why we use the term "stressful" to describe our memories of this period. For trauma did not engulf us as it did those truly affected. In the end, after much work, we managed to move 90% of our animals. Their transport was varied. Everything from trucks to floats, even standard vehicles would ferry the bubbas to safety. Kind hearted people offered up their properties for temporary housing. Far from the raging bushfire we were somewhat satisfied knowing of the calm security holding the animals.
Again, we will stress our luck. We feel somewhat poor saying it as many simply had none, as they lost all. But, we will never forget late afternoon when things began to change. Standing outdoors, we would feel it. The temperature literally dropped significantly. Gone were the heat fuelled raging walls of blanketing wind and smoke. Suddenly we felt cool upon our cheeks and could tell in an instant the directional change of the winds. Taking nothing for granted we checked our weather apps, and spoke to those who had been kind enough to advise us readily. Indeed, the furore had dropped and the fire was no longer being blown in our direction.
Have you ever felt guilty about feeling happy? We were ecstatic in our heads, yet our hearts knew that, whilst no longer a threat to Rockleigh, the path of the flames had simply pushed into a new direction. It wouldn't be long after this that news reports would declare that the fire was "under control", that whilst it still burned in sections and spot fires were always a risk, the extreme nature of the catastrophic blaze was seen as maintainable. Never enough can be said of the CFS, Fire Crews, Emergency Crews. What a mammoth task, and all entered the fray to save lives at risk of their own. If you can ever spare a donation for these organisations, please do.
Work would not be complete in the saga of the fires. Evacuation of the animals would now require reacquainting them with their home. Again, with the panic and seriousness subdued there would be time. Lovely people were in no hurry to have the animals off of their property. The job of collecting the bubbas was long but with far less stress and rush. Eventually every animal would return, undoubtedly pleased to see each other and step on familiar ground. All were in perfect health and condition. We truly will never be abe to thank enough everyone who helped. From those who answered our calls for help, to those who assisted with the hot smokey evacuation. Those who kindly offered up their space for temporary housing, and that one special individual who rushed to our aid with food.
The Cudlee Creek fires should never be forgotten. It is a reminder of the savagery in Australian summer conditions. How quickly things can escalate to shocking proportions. We will always respect the Aussie conditions. We will also always remember those who suffered greatly during these and other fires. For they are the true victims. They deserve our thoughts. Obviously, we will always feel for the incredible amount of animal life lost. Absolutely devastating. We can feel the emotions we felt during the time. Always remembered.
Stand Tall
During the Cudlee Creek fire there was one thing that we can assure you we were not doing. We were not sitting idly on our hands doing nothing, or refusing help to others. This sanctuary, and all who are involved in it, would give the shirt off of our backs to anyone who needed it. Nor are we inclined to deny ourselves available if we are. In reference to the unsavory post below, we have just explained our commitments during the Cudlee Creek fire.
Usually we would simply ignore posts such as this, especially if they were a one off. We have far greater and more important things to be doing than to respond to slanderous insults. But, this type of post, from another sanctuary, has been longstanding and frequent. Basically, since our inception we have had posts such as this, and rumours spread, that border on defamation. We truly have lost count of the amount, and the times of hearing false accusations of things we have apparently done. Defamatory accusations that are truly spiteful, mean, nasty and vengeful. The strangeness of this post, our apparent deliberate lack of help, comes after this sanctuary had already begun their tirades. In 2019 we had been in existence nearly 4 years. The sanctuary in question had already ostracized and attacked us before the fires.
To reiterate, we are not interested in a tit for tat, back and forth war with another sanctuary. A divide amongst rescues has already been created by this sanctuary. We would prefer that this was not the case, that we could get on with what is important in what we do without constant harassment. But, to be having such vitriol directed from another sanctuary for near 10 years, openly, aggressively and subtlety in context, it has come to the point of enough being enough. Every individual comes to a point in time where they need to stand up and defend their integrity, stand tall for who they are and what they do. We will no longer sit back. We will guard and protect our brand. For 10 years we believe we have done good work, we have always placed the animals first and adhered to our philosophy and mission. We have built friendships and bonds with vegan business and activist groups as we commit to our promise to stand up for animals worldwide. Our conscience remains clear. It would appear that the only crime we have committed is simply existing.
The damage that is obviously ensued is criminal and counterproductive. It goes against everything that animal rights and welfare espouses. It certainly works as detrimental to animal rescue. The end goal of seeing our sanctuary close will never occur, we are going nowhere. We remain here for the animals. But, what of a successful heinous plan? What of the 200+ animals who currently call Furever Farm home? Yes, what a catastrophe it would be for them.
Furever Farm will no longer make comment of this obvious vendetta. We have stood before you and have defended ourselves as much as we plan. We will continue to focus 100% of our effort and attention on the animals, current and future. For we are determined that there is a future here. Should we lose one of two followers due to this blog we can only call it a casualty of honesty. For it simply had to be said, and when we finally allow ourselves to lay our heads down at night we sleep easy and without guilt.
We thank every single individual who has and does support and follow Furever Farm. You are treasured by us and we class you as family. Each business that has and does support us we are truly grateful. For you are family also. Without saying, our family here at the sanctuary. Our volunteer crew, you are without doubt our saving grace, our shoulders to lean on and you mean the world to us and the animals you all love so dearly.
Please consider supporting our work so we can help more animals. We rely entirely on donations & gifts and truly appreciate your help!
