By Lizzie Packer
In Memoriam January 2020
hot dry summers are the norm for Australians whether they understand climatology or not – hot dry summers are for beach going swimming partying skylarking drinking – families friends holidays Christmas and New Year – festive meals of prawns and beer champagne and pavlova
hot dry summers now with more frequent extreme heat for longer periods extended harsher droughts empty dams and creeks and rivers – thirsty starving stock with bony carcasses and fish floating dead from lack of oxygen in muddy river pools
in hotter drier summers vegetation is easily burnt trees explode into infernos – burning embers fly far on fire-generated winds – extreme heat rising creates fire tornados pyro cumulus clouds generate dry lightning and more fire
in this dry year their habitats in flames about eight thousand koalas died – the population decimated no-one will ever know how many they move too slowly to escape the greedy flames – a billion mammals birds and reptiles perished – trees shrubs plants and grasses – ash – Gondwana rainforest reserves surviving since the dinosaurs half now burned
this hot dry year fires started different ways mainly dry lightning strikes – once a tree falling on power lines not so much arsonists or discarded cigarettes sparks from farm equipment or bored teens wasting their lives endangering others though all above were lit
this hot dry summer three firefighters already dead others burnt so bad they lie in city hospitals’ intensive care – first responders struggle with PTSD – unknown numbers of homeowners injured burnt bereft defending homes and livelihoods – those in evacuation centres who lost everything bar clothes they wore that morning struggle to imagine their next steps
this hot dry year survivors recount the unholy roar the palpable fear the wall of flame – spot fires embers ash – exigent heat burning exposed skin – smoke searing breath – the horror of dark red sky – the gates of hell opened wide so they say that even atheists prayed to save the souls of the dead
Lizzie Packer is an experienced freelance writer, and an emerging poet. At Adelaide College of Arts, Lizzie established the online creative writing program and led it for over a decade.
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