Tue 02 Jan— Flew out of Darwin to Melbourne via Adelaide, arriving at 1800, only to find that the members from Alice Springs had been delayed by a lightning strike to their aircraft. A DSE Induction the next morning then by bus to another motel at Moe. The following day members of the first deployment arrived from Swifts Creek to hand over the vehicles. The contingent then drove to Erica and then another couple of kilometres further to the Rawson Caravan Park. Accommodation was in three person units. We were put to work straight away on night shift, working around Aberfeldy, a small hamlet about 30km up the mountains from Erica. From about 2200 we were given the job of patrolling and back-burning just north of Aberfeldy and south towards Walhalla until 0830 the following morning. The next six nights and days consisted of getting up at 1700, 1750 briefing, 1800 meal (breakfast) at Bistro Erica, 1900 briefing at IMT Erica, pick up food and drinks and 2000 depart for fire line. Commence allotted tasks for that night at 2100 and at 0800 assemble for return journey to Erica. Vehicle maintenance and refuelling, breakfast at the caravan park, debrief, free time, a few drinks, laundry etc., then a shower and to bed. Over this period the objective was to protect the catchment area of the Thomson Dam which supplies 40% of Melbourne’s meagre water supply.
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