After investing a month into moving into their new property in Harcourt, central Victoria, Ben Lawrence and his partner Danika were eagerly anticipating their first official night at home. However, their plans were tragically upended on Friday, January 9, when a devastating fire swept through the area.
At around 2 PM, the couple decided to make one last trip to Melbourne to avoid forecasted rain. “It was a hot wind, 43 degrees Celsius, pretty exhausted from moving anyway and we were planning on being back in six or seven hours,” Mr. Lawrence recounted. Just half an hour later, they received the alarming news that an out-of-control grassfire had ignited in Ravenswood South, a mere 10 kilometers from their home.
With catastrophic winds fueling the flames, the fire rapidly advanced towards their property, leaving the couple powerless to intervene. What was once their dream home is now a pile of twisted tin and charred brick. Their possessions have been reduced to ash, and a dozen valuable cars, worth approximately $250,000, are now nothing more than burnt-out shells.
The Aftermath of the Blaze
Among the devastation, a lone washing machine, starkly white amidst the blackened landscape, stands unscathed. The couple is left “heartbroken” by the loss. “We’ve put everything we had into moving up here and making a big change and it’s all gone, we’ve got absolutely nothing,” Mr. Lawrence lamented. “Just realizing what is missing — everything we’ve worked towards for 30 years and collected, it’s all just there,” he said, gesturing towards the rubble.
Mr. Lawrence, a mechanic, had recently closed his Melbourne-based car restoration business, intending to restart in the country. The fire destroyed about a dozen cars, some custom-made and uninsured, which cannot be replaced. Their home is one of nearly 50 that authorities report have been lost to the Ravenswood blaze.
Community Challenges and Recovery Efforts
Although the fire was no longer spreading by Monday, it remained uncontrolled, and Harcourt residents were allowed to return home. However, they faced significant challenges with contaminated water, disrupted power supply, and patchy mobile service. Train services on the Bendigo line were also impacted, with repairs needed to 5.7 kilometers of track between Ravenswood and Castlemaine.
A Coliban Water spokesperson indicated it might take two weeks to restore safe drinking water to about 500 affected customers. Meanwhile, Victoria Police are investigating reports of a burglary from a vacant home in Harcourt over the weekend. “Victoria Police are running dedicated reassurance police patrols to keep a lookout for any suspicious activity,” a spokesperson stated, following the theft of several valuable items from the Picnic Gully Road property.
Looking Forward: Rebuilding and Resilience
The destruction wrought by the Ravenswood fire has left a lasting impact on the Harcourt community. As residents begin the arduous process of rebuilding, they face not only the physical reconstruction of homes and infrastructure but also the emotional toll of their losses.
Experts emphasize the importance of community support and resilience in the wake of such disasters. Historical parallels can be drawn to previous bushfires in Victoria, where recovery efforts have been bolstered by strong community ties and government assistance. The path to recovery will likely involve a combination of insurance claims, government aid, and community-driven initiatives.
For Ben Lawrence and Danika, the future remains uncertain. Yet, their story is a poignant reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and the enduring spirit required to rebuild from the ashes.
“We’ve put everything we had into moving up here and making a big change and it’s all gone, we’ve got absolutely nothing,” Mr. Lawrence said.
