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ABC News 25 January 2021 As residents in the area of the Cherry Gardens bushfire begin to count the cost of the blaze that ripped through their properties, one local has described how her family was forced to take refuge in a cellar amid the "firestorm". The Cherry Gardens fire, which started yesterday in extreme conditions, is still burning in an area south-east of Adelaide, and some on social media have likened the sight of the blaze to a "volcano". Jessica Jones's Mount Bold Road property came under threat from the fire last night. Her two young sons took shelter in the family's cellar while she and her adult daughter used fire hoses to protect the home, and her husband protected the border of the property. She said she was relieved when her husband emerged from the smoke. Ms Jones said the family managed to save their animals. "We built our house, and so we built it to be defendable and are very thankful that we planned an underground component," she said. Many Adelaide Hills residents in the emergency zone spent the night at Mount Barker Oval, which is a bushfire refuge point. Click here to read the full article.

The Guardian by Lisa Cox 21 January 2021 Forests in some subalpine areas near Mount Kosciuszko and in Victoria’s East Gippsland region are struggling to recover from the 2019-20 bushfires, according to researchers examining the aftermath of the disaster. But eucalypts in forested areas of the New South Wales south coast appear to be recovering well, say the scientists, who are tracking the sites using data gathered by groups of citizen scientists. The Bushfire Recovery Project is a team of five scientists based at Griffith and the Australian National universities. It was formed following the catastrophic 2019-20 bushfire season – which burned more than 8m hectares – to bring together experts and community volunteers to produce data that might assist with the development of post-fire policy. Citizen scientists have been tracking forest regrowth on the south coast near Batemans Bay and in subalpine woodlands near the NSW and Victorian border. David Lindenmayer, of the Australian National University, is another member of the Bushfire Recovery Project. He said the resprouting occurring in areas along the south coast was “wonderful” but said the fires, combined with the effects of drought and logging, had taken a toll on wildlife such as the koala and greater glider. But Lindenmayer said frequent fires in areas in recent years meant that trees being burnt were too young to produce seeds. “What it means is fires are burning young trees, which means there’s no seed rain from the canopy, which is how these trees regenerate,” he said. “It’s burning through young trees that aren’t old enough to produce seed, so the system is dead.” Lindenmayer said there had been a huge effort in Victoria after the fires to collect seeds that could be used to re-establish forest in the worst-affected areas. Justin Field, an independent NSW MLC and resident of the south coast, said it was a relief to see new growth in the region’s burnt forests “and the clean white trunks of big spotted gums that have now shed their burnt bark. But there are also large areas where the intensity of the fires was much greater, many large trees have now clearly died and the canopy has been entirely lost,” he said. Click here to read the full article

The Beagle Weekly 4 January 2020 Black Summer, to be released for sale on January 6th, 2021, is a compilation of stories of loss, courage and community from the 2019-2020 bushfires. Told by ABC journalists, including ABC South East reporters Claire Wheaton, Daniel Doody and Adriane Reardon who were on the ground and broadcasting during our worst ever fire season, the book is spearheaded by Michael Rowland. Publishers Harper Collins promote the book, ahead of its release, saying: "The bushfires that burnt across Australia from June 2019 to February 2020 were unprecedented. By the time the rains came, they had devoured more than 18 million hectares of bush and farm land, destroyed nearly 3000 homes, claimed the lives of 33 people, killed about a billion animals and driven more to the brink of extinction. The heartbreak, pain, loss and uncertainty were felt far and wide. These were fires that burnt in every state and affected all Australians, directly or indirectly. But out of the tragedies, the fear, the lost homes, the burnt forests, the bleak holidays, the unrelenting smoke have come stories of courage and community. ABC journalists on the ground during the crises brought many of these stories into homes across the nation. This book contains updates, new stories and overviews by them, as well as reflections on how such a catastrophe occurred and what we have learnt from it. It is both a record of the events and a tribute to those who endured, escaped, fought and in some cases paid the ultimate price. All publisher profits from this book will be donated to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. By purchasing this book you are assisting people, animals, forests and communities affected by the fires. Product Details: ISBN: 9780733341328 ISBN 10: 0733341322 Imprint: ABC Books - AU On Sale: 06/01/2021 Pages: 336 List Price: 34.99 AUD Click here to read the full article

of the Report of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements FENNER SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT & SOCIETY, Australian National University College of Science Webinar 12pm, Tuesday 15 Dec 2020 The Black Summer bushfires were the most destructive fire season in Australia in 20 years, and grasped international attention. Following this fire season, The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements was formed to examine how prepared Australia is to respond to bushfires and other natural disasters. The Commission presented its report in October 2020, outlining its recommendations. These included looking to the future to consider national disaster arrangements, not just for bushfires, but for all naturally occurring, rapid onset events that seriously disrupt Australian communities. The next important step to consider is how will government, industry and society go about the challenge of implementing the Commission’s wide-ranging recommendations? This expert panel brings together academics from across the ANU to discuss this question, and the recommendations of the latest Royal Commission, focusing on the barriers, opportunities, and practicalities of implementation. The panel will focus on four key areas – national arrangements, the role of the defence forces, health and land management. This event has been organised by the Disaster Risk Science Institute, the Fenner School of Environment & Society, and the Climate Change Institute at The Australian National University. Speakers Hon A/Prof Michael Eburn (College of Law): National Disaster Arrangements Prof Brendan Sargent (Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs): The role of the Australian Defence Force Dr Arnagretta Hunter (ANU Medical School): Health Prof Peter Kanowski (Fenner School of Environment and Society): Land Management Click here to register

The Guardian by Graham Readfearn Friday 13 November 2020 Australia’s climate has entered a new era of sustained extreme weather events, such as dangerous bushfires and heatwaves, courtesy of rising average temperatures, a new report by the nation’s two government climate science agencies has found. Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mostly from fossil fuel burning, has driven more dangerous bushfires, rising sea levels and a rapid rise in the days where temperatures reach extreme levels, the Bureau of Meteorology and the CSIRO said in Australia’s latest State of the Climate Report. “What we are seeing now is beyond the realm of what was possible previously,” said Dr Jaci Brown, director of CSIRO’s Climate Science Centre. While 2019 was Australia’s hottest on record that helped deliver unprecedented bushfires, those temperatures would be seen as average once global heating reaches 1.5C, the report said. Among the key findings, the report said Australia’s climate had warmed by 1.44C since 1910 with bushfire seasons getting longer and more dangerous. Australia’s oceans had warmed by 1C and were acidifying. Click here to read the full article

University of Melbourne, Faculty of Science Can Citizen Science Save the World? Wednesday 31 March 6pm - 7pm Citizen science projects are becoming increasingly popular, offering everyone the chance to get involved in scientific research. Hear more about this community-minded manner of conducting surveys, experiments and environmental interventions. Associate Professor David Kennedy, recipient of a Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science, will talk about his Victorian Coastal Monitoring Program, and will then be joined by a panel of expert guests to discuss other citizen science initiatives, how they're changing science and their potential to change to world. Register here

Fire Aviation by Bill Gabbert 6 November 2020 Coulson Aviation and Linfox have agreed to work together in a consortium to help Australians suppress bushfires. Coulson will bring helicopters and air tankers to the table to work with the logistics company Linfox, with both presently operating on multiple continents. The proposed fleet of large fixed wing air tankers, super heavy helicopters, and fire intelligence gathering aircraft will be based and operated throughout the State and Territories in Australia, with maintenance and support infrastructure supplied in New South Wales and Victoria. The team intends to work with State Governments, Territories, emergency services agencies, and within any framework agreed by the Federal Government. Australia has one of the largest volunteer firefighting forces in the world. They intend to build a world class training facility and center of excellence for volunteers to create a strong, intelligence-led and informed approach to firefighting. The 365 day a year fleet is intended to offer firebombing, intelligence gathering, and aerial firefighting support services during the fire seasons, but also search and rescue, surveillance and medical evacuation services at other times. The combining of the two company’s unique skill sets will allow the consortium to set up remote bases where aircraft can reload retardant close to a live fire zone, rather than having to fly, sometimes for hours, to the nearest airport – and then back again. Chairman of Coulson Aviation Australia, Wayne Coulson said, ‘We’ve learned through many major fire campaigns globally the enormous effect of large capacity air tankers in managing bushfires, particularly when we bring the fight at night; this results in lives saved and houses standing and that’s why we do what we do.’ “There is always an opportunity to improve our nation’s approach to aerial firefighting,’’ added Lindsay Fox, founder of Linfox. “Each of the States and Territories are responsible for their own emergency response, so each response varies. As our fire seasons get longer – and become more dangerous and unpredictable, the most sensible – and safe – solution is a co-ordinated, national approach.” Click here to read the full articl6

Australian Bushfire Help 6 November 2020 Australian Bushfire Help is excited to announce the launch of our first range of product merchandise - from canvas prints, to t-shirts, socks, back packs & more! Our first collection is dedicated to Australia's koala's. Australia's koala population was decimated by the Black Summer bushfires & without some immediate, drastic intervention to save their surviving population's, koala's are predicted to become extinct by 2050. Imagine an Australia without koala's? We can't imagine it & will do everything we can to help save these precious & unique Australian marsupials. 10% of all sales from our Australian Koala collection will be donated towards koala conservation efforts. So if you have a spare 5 minutes - have a browse! We have 2 collections with different product selections: Red Bubble: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/61649198?asc=u Society6: https://society6.com/australianbushfirehelp Happy Shopping!

Media Release, The Hon David Littleproud MP, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management 28 October 2020 The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David John Hurley AC DSC (Retd), has received the Final Report of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. The report has been provided to the Australian Government and simultaneously provided to the states and territories. The report remains embargoed and confidential until it is tabled and published on Friday, 30 October 2020, in order to provide the Australian Government, states and territories time to consider the report's findings.​ Click here to read view the original media release

Sydney Morning Herald by Mike Foley 28 October 2020 Australia has seen 51 bushfire inquiries since its first - the 1939 Black Friday Royal Commission - but the current Black Summer inquiry, due to be published on Friday, arguably tackles greater challenges than any previous investigation. Experts told the inquiry the bushfires of 2019-20, which torched 10 million hectares, claimed 33 lives and destroyed more than 3000 homes, was the first manifestation of climate change, with fires running hotter, for longer and across multiple state jurisdictions. Last summer lightning strikes created huge blazes in remote bushland in the Snowy Mountains, Blue Mountains and NSW South Coast, as well as a series of fires that burned across East Gippsland in Victoria. Former Victorian Country Fire Authority chief Neil Bibby said recommendations to boost early aerial response at the first sign of smoke in remote areas should be a crucial element of the commission's recommendations. "It's fundamental. When you put the little fire out it doesn't become a big one, it's really simple. The fire services understand it, but the public and politicians don't," Mr Bibby said. Click here to read the full article

by Climate Council 26 October 2020 Exactly 12 months ago today, the huge Gospers Mountain Fire started from a lightning strike north-west of Sydney. The fire burned for almost 80 days, and became the biggest forest fire in Australia's recorded history. One year on, the fire has left a heart-wrenching scar on both the landscape and the communities it tore through. This is what climate change looks like. In just a few days, the Royal Commission will hand down its findings into the 2019-20 bushfire season, and it's imperative that it clearly acknowledges the role of climate change in fueling the 2019-20 bushfires. Share this video to spread the word, and to continue pushing for strong, meaningful and effective action on climate change in Australia: https://climc.nl/311P22u Over June and July 2020, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) hosted Australia’s first virtual bushfire and climate change summit to coordinate a national response to the Australian climate and bushfire crises. The 2020 National Bushfire and Climate Summit brought together hundreds of participants from across the country, and the world, to share their experiences, and to formulate recommendations to address the worsening risk of devastating bushfires fuelled by climate change. The Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan is the culmination of that effort. Read the Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan here.

The Drum ABC News by Ruby Cornish 14 October 2020 Key Points: Cobargo community leaders say they've had little information on how to access government funding The National Bushfire Recovery Agency has so far only spent 2 per cent of its local recovery fund Locals have taken to funding and running some projects themselves When Black Summer descended on the Bega Valley last New Year's Eve, residents of Cobargo and its surrounds headed for the village showground. It wasn't an official evacuation point, but it was the obvious place to go. "It's pretty central for everybody. People coming in from Wandella and down from Dignams Creek. It's a gathering place and it always has been," said local resident Zena Armstrong. People who congregated at the showground were quickly instructed to leave and head further afield to evacuation centres at Bermagui, Bega or Narooma. Click here to read the full article