Internet Response to the Bushfire in Victoria

Saturday the 7th Of February 2009 Temperature at 49c and a gale force wind blowing at 100kmh at about 12.45pm I received a phone call

“Chris Chris There's a fire go outside and have a look quick. Stared at Renlaw Road.”

I went out side and smoke over the back in a wheat paddock that been harvested and thought to myself that it will burn the paddock and stop and the Fire crew will have it under control as the sounds of Fire Trucks racing every where. I quickly went on to Twitter and sent a message that there is a fire in Horsham. This was the start to a very big week. View the video to see what I mean

Lynton Browns Horsham Fire Video 1/2/2009

The Renlaw Rd Fires at Horsham Victoria proved to be a lot worse than I or anyone else would have imagined with the loss of The Horsham Golf Club, 8 houses and a Fire Truck . But that was only the start and has became one of Australian worst Natural Disasters. Most parts of the State of Victoria was ablaze and the final toll still not counted but as of writing the toll was 181 and expecting 300 with the los of 1800 homes and 400,000 ha of land.

I Cannot claim to be the one but all afternoon I was gathering information on the fire and tweeting it trough twitter and Facebook. Twitter is an application where you write 140 Characters messages about what you are doing now. There was a local man from Horsham who received a message trough the internet in Malaya that Horsham is ablaze and Phone his wife to get out of the house. One of the 8 houses destroyed. This proved a very valuable asset to this person that while in Malaya was able to save his family through the use of tools like Twitter. There was a number of user of Tweeds( Twitter users) jump to the task and provided relay messages from the CFA through @CFA_updates who had a live feed from the CFA web site feeding it back to Twitter and @aniraangel who would be quick to resend any worth while information on to others. @774 Melbourne (774 ABC Melbourne) has a news feed running with current and accurate information feeding through and the world stood up and took notice that Victoria was in trouble. It very difficult to really know what the success of this was but if it saved one life then it was worth the effort. All messages carried the #Bushfires # Vicfires Hash tags to enable people to filter the feed by the tag names and keep up to date. This was a very effective tool to use in such a situation.

Also there was valuable information about how to donate. What was needed and who to contact. Links to valuable web sites such has CFA and the RED CROSS where posted at regular intervals that not only help in the fundraising efforts but also allowed people to find the correct information in a hurry. I was impressed with the quality of the post by people who some are just trying to build a following and create a social network. Any post that where not appropriate where quickly dealt with by other users and those people faded into nowhere land.

Facebook

Facebook social network raised to the event by the creation of supporter groups who for the CFA and for those who lost their lives with Samboy is back_Join Now to WIN $10,000 for the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal group attracting 101,000 members in a week. Samboy ran a competition to see who cold get the most users to a group before the 15th of February. This had nothing to do with the Bushfires but the innovative idea of Kimberley Evans thought we can do this. This extended to other states groups to offer their winning prize to the the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal

Samboy is Back - JOIN NOW TO WIN $10,000 FOR THE RED CROSS BUSHFIRE APPEAL

There is also

Zoe Caudle (John XXIII College) who started a group over 27000 members and is a good group for information on the Bushfires

In memory of those who have died in the Victoria Bush fires and lost homes.

Melissa Dower

Victorian Fires - 7/2/09 - CFA volunteers and staff are awesome!!

And Mellissa other group

Donate a "colouring book" to the kids affected by the horrific fires

I was told this morning that by Mellissa that she had collected 1000 colouring in books. She contacted 774 Melbourne to tell them she had the books and a women who's role is to help the people how where Homeless and to get schools and Kindergartens up and running again said she will take them all of Mellissa and see that they get distributed to the kids who need them.

There was many dynamics to how the internet was used during the crisis and a friend of mine Hans posted this blog today on how Google wanted to get involved and with providing information for the bush fire and how it was hampered by backward government departments.

The internet even after this amount of time is still evolving and new realisation of how it can be used is still emerging with the dynamics of Web 2 and collaborating information we have an important role to play in getting others on board this new dimension.

Acknowledgments

Lynton Brown Youtube Video

Facebook.

Twitter

Kimberly Evans Samboy is Back - JOIN NOW TO WIN $10,000 FOR THE RED CROSS BUSHFIRE APPEAL

Mellissa Dower Victorian Fires - 7/2/09 - CFA volunteers and staff are awesome!!

Mellissa Dower Donate a "colouring book" to the kids affected by the horrific fires

Hans blog

Live footage of Victorian Bush fires

 

Lynton Brown of Horsham Victoria took this Video on Saturday the 7th of Feb in High Winds.

Some excellent footage of  to see the work of the CFA (Country Fire Authority) and the shocking conditions that they had to work under.

 

 

These guys are amazing - what else can I say apart from Firebugs need to be shot.
We appreciate all the work you guys and girls do. We can not thank you enough for your dedication, commitment and most of all Bravery xxxx
To everyone who have lost homes, friends, animals! anyone that has been affected in these terrible fires. the nation is thinking of you all xxxxxxx  (Melisa Dower,2009)
For Updates to the fire situation
http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_updates.htm
Twitter @cfa_updates
http://twitter.com/cfa_updates
Latest Information from 774 ABC radio Melbourne
Twitter @774Melbourne
http://twitter.com/774melbourne
http://www.abc.net.au/melbourne
http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/melbourne_bushfires/index.html
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/02/06/2484632.htm
Transport updates from VicRoads
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/NewsRoom/BushFiresRoadClosures/
and V/Line
http://www.vline.com.au/index.aspx?sid=0
Warning over bushfire appeal scams ACCC
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486548.htm?section=justin
12.15 - 8/2/2009 - we had 3 members, truly amazing it is now 10pm - 8/2/2009 and it has grown to 2000. 9/2/09 - the group has gown to over 4500... 9/2/09 @ 4.30 we are over 7000...we now have hit the 10000 mark. This shows the respect we all have for everyone who has been apart of this terrible weekend...
Donate a "colouring book" to the kids affected by the horrific fires. Join this group as well
http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=61289064121

 

Acknowledgments

Lynton Brown The Video Man http://www.thevideoman.com.au/

Melisa Dower, 2009  Victorian Fires - 7/2/09 - CFA volunteers and staff are awesome!! (Facebook Group) http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=123739265622

More Corporate Freeloaders with Victorian Bushfires

Yesterday I wrote a post Corporate Spectacle of the bushfires  today I have an email box full of request from Corporate companies to Support the Bush Fire appeal and they will bla bla bla.

Betfair

This contribution will come in the form of a donation to the Victorian Premiers Fund, of all revenue generated by Betfair on all Victorian horseracing markets on Wednesday 11th of January

Betfair will donate a minimum of $25,000 and we ask that you support this cause by either having a matched bet on any Victorian horseracing market or making a direct donation by going to www.redcross.org.au. The minimum bet is just $5, and every little bit of your financial support will help.

Well what a scam It is now the  10th of February. Just hand out the $25000 and stop trying to scalp from the victims.

 

Coles

Mr McLeod said the size of this Friday’s donation would depend on customer support, but could be several million dollars.

http://www.coles.com.au/about/news/documents/Coles%20to%20donate%20this%20Friday%27s%20profits%20to%20VIC%20Bushfire%20Appeal%20Fund.pdf

 

Just hand over the money why depend on customer supports?

you scalpers?

 

http://5for1.aws.sitepoint.com/

Sale of 5 slow moving books will be donated to the bush fires Appeal if you by before Friday 13th Feb 2009

 

Beware of other scams as well The ACCC recommends you should only support trusted Fun raising appeals. I Recommended Australian Red Cross

http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm

The corporate spectacle of the Bush fires

On the back of the hard working crews of CFA (Country Fire Authority Victoria) and the victims  of bushfires  comes the corporate  vultures ready to swipe down on the people in need and put on the greatest show on earth.

The 4 major banks have pledged 1 million dollars each to help build Victoria’s fire ravaged state  that will only replace the Horsham Golf Club. As one pensioner lady said that  it amount to 0.0024% of their profits/ She donated $200 which was 1.4% of her income. But the real spectacle is all the free adverting they get for their generous donation. Every 5 minutes on Twitter.com we here about the corporate donations. The radio and the internet is ablaze with the stories of corporate generosity. The donation is not a gesture of good will but a marketing strategy to gain media coverage and branding.

 

Channel 9 Telethon is purely for the same reason as it will attract ratings for the night and channel 9 will sell a bucket load of premium advertising for the spectacle. There corporate generosity is nil as it is the  generosity of the public that pledge the donation while they put on their circus.

 

To stage a rock concert cost millions of dollars and the Idea of having a  rock concert to donate money to the appeal is another media spectacle that not only build the branding of the performers but lines the pockets of promoters and ticket sellers. Its not about been a good corporate citizen but to get some gain from the disaster for their own corporate greed

 

The corporate citizen JB High Fi generosity is to match dollar for dollar  their staff contributes to the Appeal. The spectacle here is they get some media coverage with an innovated idea of deciding how much to donate. If it was a genuine  offer why have conditions. Open up you purse and give you mean bastards without any recognition or media coverage.

 

The other laugh is the newspapers web sites asking visitors to send in their photos. Why do they do this is because of new trend in the media not to employ photographers and journalist and to use the public to get their material. None of the photos in our Fairfax papers where that of their staff.

 

Myer will match dollar-for-dollar total customer contributions to the Appeal up to $500,000. The goal – to raise $1 million for the recovery effort. and they get 1000’s of customer making purchases while in the store, see their new stock range and create opportunities to do business with the donor while making a donation. If Myer are such a good corporate citizen why not just give out the $500,000 with now strings attached.

There's is also some rhetoric in the politicians as well. They will make TV appearances to announce the hand out to the Fire victims and to preach a bit of politics while they are there. Mr brumby will be on the TV for the telethon appeal along with Mr Rudd playing lip service to the public on how terrible it is but the underlying part is they are playing the best part of politics when they are giving away money to people in need.

 

The only real heroes in all this is the Red Cross,the Salvation Army and CFA  Fire fighters who work tirelessly as volunteers and ask for no glory.

Renlaw Road Horsham Fires. Local Heroes

A friend Ken Ballinger from Horsham risked his like to save wheel chaired bound 82yo Molly Cutchie in Haven on Saturday. Molly Lost her home in the fire and when Ken Arrived in his taxi the fire was 100 meters from the property. 

Photo by Lynton Brown

 

Ken said I couldn't leave her out there to be engulfed in flames. I couldn't sit there and let her burn.

Photo’s From The Wimmera Mail Times. 9 Feb 2009.

Molly's 32you legendary harness racing horse Haven Hero survived the fire. Well Molly you have another Hero in Ken Ballinger.

If you have any other amazing stories leave a comment.

Join the social network. All About The Wimmera for updates.

Victorian Bushfires still claiming lives

As some one that live in the Wimmera seen again this weekend the horror of fire. Personally effected by 500 meters down the road was a fire  started in High temperature and High winds. Horsham lost 7 houses the Golf Club, 1 Fire Truck and a workshop. After driving around the area the fires went trough there where fences and sheds burnt to the ground. Electricity  and water cut from home in around Haven. Mark McIntyre was the golf pro had his business destroyed  with the Golf Club and his home under threat in Haven.

 

But Horsham was very lucky as many other more severe fires took hold across Victoria. With more that 75 people dead and 700 homes destroyed state wide.

 

Lynton brown posted this comment on my Facebook

From a colleague of mine " I was at De Bortolis just up the road from Chateau Yering yesterday. Fires raged on 3 sides around us. Then suddenly in a matter of a couple of minutes it got really dark and then fire started coming over the hill and straight down towards us. We all (200+ of us) had to rush into the wine cellar and we weren’t allowed outside. It was sooooo close! Then in a stroke of good luck the wind changed and slowed its decent and they were able to control it. But it continued to burn all night. We were supposed to be in a marquee but it turned into a makeshift stand up wedding in the winery. Some people were crying and it was pretty bad. They were hosing the building down and the helicopters bombed it from above. No one was allowed to leave until about midnight. The bride and groom held it together amazingly  well though. I can’t believe how close it got! Then driving back down the Melba Hwy everything on the both sides of the road was still burning. "

Lynton Brown I heard tonight that someones house was saved twice last night only to be burnt down when the power came back on

There are many amazing stories of heroic acts from the Greatest Fire Fighters in the world.

Look at some of the amazing photos here

 

If you have any other amazing stories leave a comment.

Join the social network. All About The Wimmera for updates.

Technorati Tags: bushfires,horsham,grampians,Golfclub,FireTruck

How to get your Wimmera group up and running

As a member of  All About the Wimmera you are able to create your own group and share it with your friends or have it public for all members to take part in. This is a great for developing a space for that focuses on the Wimmera. This can be your club or organisation. With your group you can build your network with others in the Wimmera. So here are the steps to take

1. Join All about The Wimmera 
2. Create your Interest Groups. (Club, Business, Organisation,Personnel)
3. Add content to your Groups ( Photos, Forum , Videos, Events, and information)
4. Invites your contacts to join your Group by adding Friends. This will be the key to the success. The more member on the site the more effective it will be. Remember this is the Wimmera Group and we will be focusing on our local region not world wide as other sites do.
5. To further market your Group announce it on   bookmarking sites( Dig.com, Stumbleupon.com, delicious)
6. Use Other social networks to announce your group (Facebook, MySpace , Tweeter)

   

There are lot of opportunities to promote yourself on the Internet and but all takes time. I will constantly promote All about the Wimmera  to a attract people to the site that will then be able to easily find you. By promoting the All About The Wimmera yourself you will also enjoy sharing other members contacts. Its all about sharing and a team effort to get this program running.

Christine Nixon our ambassador for Australia Day

Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon will be in Horsham to attend the Australia day Celebrations as  the Australian Day Ambassador. But the real Highlight will be the free breakfast and the entertainment put on but by the Horsham Rural City Band, Horsham Pipe Band  and Sing Australia.

 

Breakfast at 7.15 am at Sawyer Park cooked by the Horsham Lions club.

Christine Nixon announced that she will resign when her contract end in April 2009

Small Bush Fire at Pine Lake near Horsham Western Victoria

Last night there was a small bush fire broke out on the shore of Pine lake in Western Victoria. The fire is believed to have started by fisherman when the exhaust from a vehicle ignited the grass and the fire got out of their control.

The Fire Brigade attended and quickly got the fire under control with no damage to any property.