‘Welcome back, creeps!’ I said with feeling while pulling off leeches. As the tanks filled and the dry creek bed got moving again, I didn’t mind a few leech bites one bit. Some Diggies residents, like me, only unpacked their car stuffed with fire grab bags in order to go shop for supplies in case they were flooded in. Again, fine. Every millimetre of rain took a metre off my stress that had sometimes soared while staring at apps and listening to the scanner. We have all learned a lot since Black Summer, but it doesn’t mean we don’t freeze or panic at times, and I did both. While no one wants a chance to practice, I’d give our community an A in how we shared information and supported one another through the growth of the Brassknocker fire 19 km northwest of us in Wadbilliga National Park.

I am grateful to the neighbours who reached out to me when I said I was freaking out. It really helped! I was also grateful for how we waded into one tense moment and came out with greater clarity and more options. Kate and Sally explained why they had called in their changed view of the smoke, something they did in 2020 that gave residents an hour they wouldn’t otherwise have had to flee the fire that took out houses in Diggies. During that conversation, Ian, a Diggies member of the Cobargo Fire Brigade, confirmed the wisdom of their decision to act and reminded us of his number should we need it to get information or a second opinion. We learned and understood more. I learned to explain to some friends and relatives further afield that it was nice of them to watch the fire on the apps too, but their panic and requests for five-minute updates must stop!

Brassknocker is now contained. Who isn’t grateful to our mighty rural fire brigades, the volunteers who take time to train up and take their skills and knowledge into the line of fire? And who doesn’t want to marry whoever is running the Facebook account of the Far South Coast Team of the NSW RFS for the tone and content of the regular information provided?

All are warmly welcome to join the next Diggies Landcare Group event with an expert speaker on dingos on 9 February at 5.00 pm – see you at the OldNew Shed (follow the signs)!

Flick Ruby