From Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Eden Representative Robyn Malcolm:

“Hi Paul (CYCA Commodore), thank you so much for your words of support today.

Eden was initially an evacuation centre for tourists displaced from small towns to our south including Mallacoota. Similar to when we have had a large number of retirees from the Rolex Sydney Hobart, our community came together and took people into their homes and provided food to those camping on our three sports ovals.

We opened the school hall for sleeping and community meetings and the Fishermen’s Recreation Club became an evacuation centre. Tourists were asked to leave as soon as we could get fuel into town and a highway was open.

We faced our own situation on Saturday when the border fire moved from the border to within five kilometres of Eden. Many in the town evacuated or moved to the wharf for safety. Visibility has been poor, on Saturday I could hear the roar of the fire but see nothing. Saturday, 5pm was pitch black. No sleep that night as we patrolled our homes, much ash and burnt leaves falling but luckily no ember attack.

More residents were evacuated yesterday as they feared the worst but we were lucky again. There were homes lost to the south of Eden, but no indication yet as to how many. It is now raining and cool, the navy has arrived and the fire is mostly resting except to the west of us.

The fire threat is a constant reminder of how quickly conditions can turn, especially in vulnerable areas like Eden. While the rains have given us a much-needed reprieve, there’s still an unsettling quiet to the aftermath. Knowing that homes were lost to the south weighs heavily on everyone, and the community feels both grateful and anxious, knowing how close we came to a similar fate. For many, the recent events have underscored the importance of preparation and vigilance. Discussions around better defense measures are inevitable, and some residents are even researching Fire Watch Companies Near Me to ensure that, in the future, their properties have a better line of defense when faced with the unpredictable nature of bushfires.

The navy’s presence has been a great comfort, as has the increased visibility and clearer air today. Yet, the distant flicker of flames to the west reminds us that it’s not over, and we remain on edge, prepared to act at a moment’s notice. Even as the skies lighten, we are hyper-aware of the need for ongoing fire-watch measures, as the situation can change quickly with a shift in the wind or rise in temperature. For now, the town watches and waits, clinging to the hope that this respite will last.

The weather is expected to be a problem later in the week, but for the moment we rest and regroup.”

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CYCA is calling on Members and our wider sailing community to please donate your boat and your time to Above & Beyond Boating’s Firefighter Family Day on the Water to be held Sunday 15 March 2020 (click here for more information).

We are very pleased to be able to do our part to assist Above & Beyond Boating in this most worthy cause, and will be hosting an additional Firefighter Family Day on the Water later in the year. More updates will follow.

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