Hi all

I posted this yesterday on OGD in response to Kathy's posting there.

"Thanks for your thoughts. I don't know of anyone from the orchid community
here who has been affected but I'll know more tonight when I attend the
Orchid Species mtg here in Melbourne. The current death toll is more than
130 and expected to rise significantly as the authorities move into the
burnt out areas. There are also severely burnt people in hospitals.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/bu...0209-81ue.html

The fires are still raging out of control and more towns are threatened. At
least the temperatures have fallen which should aid the fire fighters.

The worst part is that police suspect at least half the fires were
deliberately lit. Considering we have had drought conditions for the past
10 years it borders on insanity."

Following the meeting last night it appears that no members of our Society
were directly affected but one member had to leave the meeting when he found
out that his daughter's best friend had died in the fires. A fern and
orchid nursery in the area of the fires seems to have escaped with minor
damage.

The number of lives lost now stands at 171 and is still expected to rise.

The current situation is that more towns are now being threatened as the
fires continues their ravaging.

John
Melbourne, Australia


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
...
Funny you should write this. I just booted up and was going to ask if
everyone is okay.

Diana

"K Barrett" wrote in message
...
I don't think any of us are from Victoria, Australia...Reiner may be...
but I think he's from the eastern side of Victoria. I read the fire
reports and it just sounds grim. Anything you can say is an
understatement.

Fingers crossed for one and all

K Barrett