Help The Australian Aeromodelling Bushfire Survivors
Imagine accumulating over 20 all-working and meticulously made models over three decades of aeromodelling. Then, in the blink of an eye, it all disappears, including accompanying accessories. Thousands of dollars worth of modelling history gone up in smoke. Well that's what happened to at least one of our aeromodellers here in Victoria, Australia on 'Black Saturday'. Darren Wakelin's family home, two cars and two small businesses - the lot - all gone - nothing salvageable - ground zero. The fact that he and his family are still here to tell their story is a miracle.
I am launching a fundraising drive in April for Darren's family and other victims who may come forward. I am still sorting out the finer details. Stay tuned.
Below is a photo showing the remains of Darren's home. This is followed by Darren's personal account of the event.
I would like thank everyone who has supported the survivors (not victims) of the recent Victorian Bushfires. Our particular story is one of many, and I will not go into detail of the events that happened in Kinglake on February the 7th.
My family managed to escape in one of our cars with just the clothes we were wearing as our home of twenty years exploded around us. What stunned us most, was the intensity of the heat which was estimated to be over 1600C. If it wasn't made of steel or iron it didn't survive but even then, the alloy wheels and engine block on my Subaru had turned to liquid during the peak of the blaze and formed pools of solidified Mercury around the burnt out body. Bricks and mortar were had become dust and the landscape had dramatically changed to the point of being unrecognisable.
Incredibly devastating and beyond comprehension, I can not begin to describe the feelings of loss and emptiness that my family and everyone who has suffered this disaster is going through. The community is trying to remain positive but it's not easy. We have a huge journey ahead of us.
However, everyday is getting brighter, some trees have small green shoots sprouting from their trunks and there are even a few green paddocks that weeks ago were totally blackened.
So what does this have to do with aircraft modelling? I have been involved with modelling for twenty years, all types but primarily sailplanes. Over recent years Ralph Learmont (Southern Sailplanes) and I have been involved with developing the 'Firestorm' range of Electric Assisted Sailplanes EAS - some of you may know of these aircraft. Needless to say, these aircraft, many irreplaceable prototypes, were all destroyed along with well over 20 mixed fixed wing and rotary wing models (we all know how they seem to breed!), including radio equipment, etc - the list goes on.
Yes, we were insured, but not for the replacement of these - and I doubt many modellers have really thought about the true monetary value of what we gather over the years. Ian has asked me to write this article for inclusion into his website, as he has taken on not just my situation, but others who have been affected by the fires, and I thank him for this.
This has article has been very difficult for me to write (many drafts) as, considering the terrible loss of life and property, this really pales into insignificance. Other members of my club, the Kinglake Model Flyers Club (KMFC) have rallied around me and I would like to thank them for their support as we are more of a family than a club. However, although our field has remained fairly intact, members are now reluctant and unmotivated to fly amidst the devastation and will need emotional and financial support to reinvigorate our hobby.
If anything, my priority is to see the KMFC flourish again, as indeed the whole community.
I have written this article so that people reading this will know that we want to turn this disaster into something positive and see our community rise like a Phoenix from the ashes - bigger, better and stronger than before.
Our thanks goes out to all who have supported our communities, we cannot thank you enough for your kindness, love and generosity. We have been overwhelmed and we will never forget you all, including the friends we have lost.
Darren Wakelin and Family.
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