General News
31 January, 2025
A mum's world: 'The heroes of our time,' thank you to our volunteers
Yolande Grosser thanks volunteers for what they do.
I feel as though there are not big enough words to express my gratitude to our community volunteers. Volunteers, you have changed our lives dramatically - often saving them from all kinds of mishap and misery.
When I say, "Thank you", it comes from a warmth that envelopes my chest and takes my breath away - a place that really could be described as "the bottom of my heart".
You volunteers are the heroes of our time, putting your lives on hold to protect and care for everyone else.
Without you - good men and women of rural Australia - the country I know and love wouldn't exist, as you house the spirit of our nation.
Your actions speak louder than any words could, by telling me through your sacrifice that you value the lives of people you are surrounded by.
Your actions communicate that you value me personally and the community we all create together.
Recent frightening events need not be terrifying to me, because I was a safe distance from the flames, but without your effort volunteers, would any of us be a safe distance from the flames?
You have shielded us.
While comfortably sprinkled with black ash and surrounded by acrid smoke, I have listened to spine tingling tales of survival from the battlefield.
Incredible bravery, sometimes to the point of risk-taking madness, to save livestock and residences.
Trucks getting into position and then pulling back as fire falls from the sky, regrouping as the wind changes, referring to experience to plan and then finding the deafening noise of the speeding furnace making it almost impossible to communicate and co-ordinate.
Our Australian bush will always burn when lit.
We love our bit of country, but every native in my yard is a dry stick ready to go up. It's a natural occurrence when it burns periodically, but it's our volunteers who keep us all safe to continue loving it after the flames die down.
I challenge anyone not personally acquainted with a volunteer who has spent part of the past week on the back of a fire truck, to extend their social circle.
Our champions will not doubt go into the fray for us again this week - let's celebrate them before, during and after the fight.