Tourists flock back to Fraser as locals tell tales of triumph over bushfires that threatened their homes
17 December 2020
Published by https://www.abc.net.au/
AUSTRALIA – Less than two weeks after a bushfire roared towards the township of a Happy Valley on Fraser Island (K’gari), stories of survival and triumph are still doing the rounds.
Flames jumped the dingo fence encircling the township and residents were evacuated as smoke blanketed the area.
Happy Valley was saved by the efforts of a team of largely volunteer rural firefighters, led by Darren Gorlick.
As the flames grew closer to the township of fewer than 100 people, Mr Gorlick led a team out to the fire grounds to conduct back-burning in a last attempt to keep the blaze away.
He said fire was heading for the township from multiple directions.
“We knew there were aeroplanes doing water drops, but we couldn’t see them the smoke was so intense,” he said.
“There was nowhere to go and there was only one way it was going and that was straight for us.
“The hazard reduction burning earlier this year was a massive factor, especially on that north-west corner.
“It’s amazing to see how that fire racing towards the valley hit that block and stopped.”
Further south at Yidney Rocks, the blaze again came within metres of property, stopping at the back door of holiday cottages.
Mr Gorlick said the race was now on to prepare the holiday accommodation for tourists as they returned for the Christmas holidays.
“Recovery is now getting back on normal terms — it’s been a long process,” he said.
“The Valley still looks as beautiful as it did but it’s not until the outskirts you can see the damage.
“The smoke through the Valley was intense, so everybody’s going through pulling houses apart trying to get them ready for the tourists starting Christmas holidays.
“During those few days of the fire, there was just nothing — it was just doom and gloom but then a couple of days later the smoke cleared and the birds are all back.”
The recovery is well and truly underway and tourists are being welcomed back to the island.
Troy Frazer and his family from Brisbane were days away from cancelling their trip, but Tuesday’s reopening of tourist facilities came just in time.
“It was fingers crossed but still touch and go and we kept our booking and here we are — it’s beautiful,” he said.
“We were booked to come over Saturday and then that got moved to Monday and then it got opened up Tuesday and we really didn’t want to go anywhere else.
“The firies have done a great job and everyone is thankful for that — hats off to them.”
Fraser Island Retreat manager Darren Smith said the fire came worryingly close.
“My partner and two sons were on the beach saying there was a fire coming down and they knew there were flames directly behind her. They were calling, worried I was going to die,” he said.
“It was like being in a war movie, flames came within 70 metres, there was the sound of an explosion.
“I never felt my life was in danger as the fire fighters were very calm, professional.”
He said thousands of dollars in bookings had been affected by the fire.
“We went from being full every day to empty, from full over Christmas to losing a large number of bookings,” he said.
Tourists already flocking back
Tourists are now making their way back to the World Heritage-listed island from around the country.
Emma Trimble and her friend Shona Kalinbak, both from Thursday Island, have already made the southward trek to Fraser.
“The weather is so beautiful today and we’re lucky to be able to visit — the fire hasn’t stopped anything,” Ms Trimble said.
“We’re very impressed — it’s beautiful.”
Tourism operators have reported good booking numbers for the festive season.
Locals have remained hopeful that Christmas tourism will help the island recover after a challenging year.
