About Us
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
FIRESTORM was born in concept as a memento book that would help meet the huge public thirst for information on the greatest natural disaster that has ever struck our country. We wanted it to be more than just another pictorial on an Australian bushfire. This was an extraordinary event and we wanted to create an extraordinary book.
The total land size burnt on Black Saturday was equivalent to Melbourne and Sydney’s metropolitan areas combined. That’s approximately 352,000 hectares of land devoured in just 12 hours - 29,333 hectares an hour!
The community was abuzz with stories from the thousands of Victorians affected directly by these fires. Incredible stories. The press reported brief snippets of accounts from survivors. We decided that what would make our book would be some real stories from real people that would help readers understand, empathise and share this awful tragedy. Stories that would open our eyes as to what our fellow Australians experienced and endured in the teeth of that mighty inferno.
We set out approaching persons we knew from the affected areas, and the emergency organisations involved in the firefight. And the stories came in thick and fast! We were overwhelmed by the response. People wanting to share, people wanting to talk, people wanting to let Australia know about the intensity and drama of that historic day. Persons sharing graphic images, videos and mobile phone snaps of a fiery fury of flame and devastating destruction. And so this book came together very quickly, very spontaneously, capturing very genuinely the real inside story about Black Saturday. The story everyone wants to know!
HOW DID GLENVALE SCHOOL BECOME INVOLVED?
The Lilydale and Berwick Campuses of Glenvale School, a small independent primary and secondary school, were both very close to the firestruck areas and many teachers, students and parents were involved in the experiences of Black Saturday. As with all Australians, the immensity of the tragedy drew out an unprecedented spirit of goodwill and giving from the school community with significant donations being made to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal Fund.
Then came the idea of creating a memento book – this was Australia’s greatest natural disaster and so many Victorians were affected – the event must be recorded for the generations to follow. While the initial idea was as a school fundraiser, this quickly changed to the concept of raising much needed finance for our emergency services who gave so much to fight these fires.
We never want a repeat of this disaster and this book will help in two ways – raising the awareness of the awful reality of the swiftness and intensity of the fire, and by contributing funds to secure additional equipment for our firefighting forces which we hope will help the state to be even better prepared for fire seasons to come.
Parents and friends of the school were involved in compiling this publication, a task which absorbed over 4000 hours of volunteer time. The Firestorm book which we now have in our hands is a very pleasing result for the School and a tribute to the combined efforts of an enthusiastic team.
INTERESTING FACTS
► The project started as a school fundraiser but it was decided that it would be more appropriate to donate the profits to a cause that would help in the prevention of a reoccurrence of such a disaster - thus 100% of the profits are being donated to the CFA for specific equipment requirements
► Firestorm was put together by an enthusiastic group of parents and friends of the Glenvale School Lilydale and Berwick Campuses who contributed over four thousand volunteer hours to bring this book to fruition
► The dramatic and moving stories included in the book were all contributed voluntarily and for no monetary reward by persons involved in the fires
► Hundreds of photographs were also donated for use in the book
► The book was professionally designed by local book designer, Brad Maxwell, who was personally involved in the fires and put in a huge effort over a relatively compressed space of time to design this excellent work
► The book is being printed locally by McPherson’s Printing Group in Mulgrave - another group of very enthusiastic people who have pulled out all stops to bring this book to the people
► A total of 55,000 copies have so far been printed, comprising two print runs of 25,000 and 30,000
► The Firestorm website is experiencing a phenomenal number of hits showing the intense public interest in this subject.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When we come to thanking and acknowledging all those who contributed to the Firestorm publication we feel distinctly inadequate to convey our appreciation fully. This book is not written by one person or a group of persons; it is written by a community. It is written by previously unknown persons, victims of tragedy, survivors, commentators, local people, community leaders and emergency personnel. It is not an inquest into the fires. It is a coalescence of stories, photographs, experiences, dramas, ponderings and reminiscences from a recovering community that have united to provide a moving memento of the firestorm that was Saturday, 7th February, 2009. Sincere gratitude is extended to all those who were so ready to share, contribute and donate material for the book. Thank you for taking your part in the healing process.
PUBLISHING DETAILS
Compiled by: Parents & Friends Committee of Glenvale School (Lilydale & Berwick Campuses)
Published: 2009 (First Edition)
Published by: Glenvale School Lilydale Pty Ltd
Designed by: Brad Maxwell, maxwellsmartdesign
Printed and bound in Australia by: McPherson’s Printing Group, Mulgrave, Victoria
Promoted & Distributed by: Dennis Jones & Associates Pty Ltd
ISBN: 978-0-646-52130-5
© 2009 Glenvale School Lilydale Pty Ltd