Canberra Bushfires & Australia Day Shoot

[2Dogs]

Does anyone know with all the nasty bushfire stuff happening in Canberra if the shoot is still going to be on????

From the news most of Canberra looks like its ash.

I realise the Club grounds won't be affected, but the people who run it may very well be.

[Randall Wellings]

Your right Brian...apologies :( :(

will follow up on pockets..oops :cry:

[frommy]

Most of the damage so far seems to have been to the southern regions of Canberra, and unless the venue is changed for the event, my experience is that the venue is in north Canberra, near the racecourse.

This fire is trully tragic, and, I am sorry Randall, but should not be made light of. (BTW, where is the replacement limb pocket for my bow).

I live in SW Sydney very near the fire zones of the Christmas before last and have several friends and clients who were affected by that fire, as also with the fires SW of Sydney 3 weeks ago.

This Canberra fire however is absolutely horrific in the extent of damage and casualties. The Sydney fires I have experienced would not even seem to go close to this Canberra disaster.

For goodness sake, lets please think of the extent of damage and injury, and death.

The latest news I have seen is that there are serious problems with water, power and sewerage in many areas of Canberra, and these issues may have an impact on accommodation and the tournament, as well as further predicted really ****ty fire weather for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Maybe someone should email Stuart Aiken or monitor the ACTArchery site.

What an absolute bitch of a fire this must be.

Brian Fromholtz

[Marcus]

Just saw on TV. Looks pretty bad. My best man lives in Belconnen and I'm relieved that she is far away form the fires, however the loss of facilites is terrible. Sure am glad I live in Mexico-Australia. :(

[2Dogs]

I don't think 2dogs, Mrs 2Dogs & 1Dog Jnr. will be going now. From what I'm hearing most of the accomodation has been sicondered by the Govt for emergency housing for the 400 plus families.

And the sewerage and water facilites are in a spot of bother.

will wait to here more

[XLP]

I believe that if the shoot goes ahead, we should all make an effort to enter and go to Canberra.

They need to know that they are thinking of them that they are not alone, and even though our numbers are low, we can help the local economy. After any disaster you feel totally alone. Accomodation is a problem but when we were younger we would camp or sleep in our cars. I know the bodies groan more now but we're tough.

[Juggs]

my hotel i had booked has been taken over for emergency shelter
i got a call this morning so i will not be able to attend

[CMB50]

i was speaking with a guy today at our branch at the canberra airport. Flights in and out of canberra have been mucked around over the past few days as the smoke has made landing difficult and some flights diverted back to sydney or melb. Also alot of the water bombing helicopters are being refuelled there and the airport is giving them right of way. (fair enough)
Confirming what everyone else has been saying, but all the hotels in canberra and some caravan parks are being used as temporary shelter and may be for the next few weeks.
Best wishes to everyone in and around canberra, must be horrible up there because we were choking on the smoke from the fires up that way, today here in melbourne

[foo]

Best wishes to everyone in and around canberra, must be horrible up there because we were choking on the smoke from the fires up that way, today here in melbourne

If that were true, it would be a shocker.. However the smoke in Melbourne was from our own fires up near Bogong.. I hope they don't get too bad..

[Aarleks]

Just saw on the news that Les Thurbon's house was destroyed by the fire. He was also hurt and appeared to be in hospital.

Thoughts go to him and his family.

[Marcus]

Who's Les Thurbon?

[elf]

CAC & ArcheryACT Webmaster

[Marcus]

Bad news. here is hoping he is alright. :(

[westopher]

Just want to confirm the news about Les Thurbon. He and his wife have lost their home.

Les already has a pretty serious lung conditon which has stopped him shooting and this is another setback for him.

In addition to things already said about him, Les is an AA Judge and was DOS for the shoot-offs for the last Olympic shoot-offs. He also sends out some fo the worst jokes ever created!!! They are so bad that I have to pass them on to lots of people.

He is also a really great guy.

[frommy]

Don't know Les but my heart goes out to him, as well as to every other person affected by these mongrel fires.

I therefore also presume that the email I sent to him, as ArcheryACT webmaster, 5 minutes before signing onto this board, supporting his stance on the webpage against ACT not allowing a 60+ division, will not be viewed! His message on the home page seems pretty passionate on this issue. Get well soon Les, we need more rebels to keep the sport alive.

From the news tonight things might be looking even worse for the Oz Day shoot, with the main fire problems now perceived to be NW of Canberra. Forecasts for Saturday look really bad in regard to fire conditions.

In Sydney, all ABC TV news is coming from Canberra (from the local team, not just some blow-in current affairs type reporter).

Anyone with lung conditions should re-think attending IMO.

Brian

[Lenin]

Canberra should be ok for the event on the weekend. The major fires that we were supposed to recieved yesterday afternoon didn't happen and they seem to have them all under control.

Unless the weather gets really bad and the fires become out of control the tournament will still be going ahead. Accomodation for people coming into Canberra maybe the only problem for the interstate archers.

Power and sewage is not a problem anymore, only 1% of Canberra is without power but there are no house to supply that power to and the sewage plant is running fine agaian.

[Jason Hanson]

I just got an email from Keegan Mathews to say the shoot has been postponed until the 22-23rd March.

[Juggs]

anyone going that wants to share accomodation on the friday night, Im only shooting the sat at the momment.