Emerald resident Sarah Cole, ECH house co-ordinator Mary Farrow and Clematis Fire Brigade Captain Shane Miller prepare The Go List. 50001Picture: Nigel Clements
By Casey Neill
A YARRA RANGES community innovation will soon improve safety in fire-prone communities across the state.
Emerald Community House (ECH) developed The Go List last October after locals said they had nowhere to go on severe, extreme and catastrophic fire danger days.
The website lists destinations where people and their animals can relocate.
ECH has now received State Government funding to take the list throughout Victoria.
House co-ordinator Mary Farrow hoped to empower residents.
“If they have organised a destination ahead of a high-risk day, they are likely to leave early,” she said.
“It is disruptive. It is inconvenient – but so is death.”
“The Royal Commission said the only way to be safe is not to be there.
“Does anyone really want to be up here and have to be rescued?”
ECH is now looking for volunteers for the labour-intensive task of compiling the list.
“We need people with good IT skills that have a real sense of accuracy,” Ms Farrow said.
“Everybody in Victoria needs a bushfire plan. If you don’t live in a bushfire area, you need to be planning how you can help.”
“People want to help. It’s almost like survivor guilt.”
Ms Farrow said The Go List should be up and running by October.
Users will be able to search and filter for locations online and community houses in high fire risk areas will have paper copies available.
The list will include day destinations, overnight accommodation and places for animals.
“We knew of people who would not leave their animals behind and therefore were less likely to leave on a high-risk day,” Ms Farrow said.
“People died on Black Saturday because they would not leave their pets or horses. And you don’t want people driving around with a dog in their car on a 30-degree day.”
Ms Farrow said The Go List would also leave the CFA free to do their job.
“Their job is to fight fires, not rescue people who failed to leave,” she said.
The idea was born during an ABC broadcast from ECH Hall on Bushfire Awareness Day. “Many people said during that broadcast they didn’t know where to go or know anyone out of the area who could accommodate them if they left early,” she said.
“They had pets, businesses, disabilities and children in school. Some felt unable to help themselves with another stressful summer bearing down on them.”
Readers can contact Emerald Community House on 5968 3881.
