By Laura Michell
For many in the Whittlesea community, February 2009 will never be forgotten.
The devastating fires on February, 7, 2009 – now known as Black Saturday – caused catastrophic destruction and claimed the lives of many people across the region.
But the fires also sparked a remarkable community response and desire to lend a hand that is still evident today.
The fire which threatened Whittlesea started in Kilmore. It spread across the Great Dividing Range, reaching Humevale, before a wind change forced the fire front away from the township.
People living on the edge of town spent the day preparing to defend their properties from the fire which appeared to be heading straight for them.
Among them was Ivan Peterson who said the events of February 7, 2009 changed the way he – and many others in the community – thought about fires.
“We weren’t as aware as we are now … people who live on the edge of town, like me, wouldn’t stay again,” he said.
With the fire moving away from the town, Whittlesea residents quickly turned their attention to lending a hand.
Among those were Mr Peterson and Larry Challis.
The pair recall that in the days following the fires, the relief effort overtook every community building in town as donations came flooding in.
The Whittlesea post office was filled with donations that were posted to the area, while local police reported queues back to Donnybrook Road of people wanting to donate items.
Mr Challis said many in the community did whatever they could to help out, whether it be listening to people who needed to share their story, handing out clothes, or arranging for cars to be repaired.
He said one of the positives from the fires was the creation of a community garden in Laurel Street, and the expansion of the Whittlesea Community Activity Centre.
A drop-in centre operated in Church Street for two years after the fires, while a weekly lunch has morphed into a weekly brunch for the town’s men.
A memorial was established at the corner of Coombs, Yea and Humevale roads in Kinglake West, honouring the 12 people who lost their lives in the area, with another memorial created at Toorourrong Reservoir Park, honouring 35 people with strong connections to Whittlesea who died in the fires.
Mr Challis said some in the community were still distressed by the fires.
“It is quite raw for people, particularly if they lost a family member,” he said.
A remembrance service will be held at the garden on February 7 at 6.45pm.
There will also be a community gathering at Toorourrong Reservoir Park on Saturday, February 9 at 9am and art created by the community in response to the fires will be exhibited at the council offices in South Morang throughout February.
