Grieving for losses: Fire in Albert National Park

The Alfred National Park protected a beautiful area of warm temperate rainforest and stands of wet eucalyptus forest in East Gippsland, Victoria, and is bisected by the Princes Highway. Many of the species within it were uncommon or rare in other parts of the State of Victoria. I have always loved winding through its giant tree ferns and lovely forests whenever we have been down this way, and I am saddened to learn that it has been 100 % burnt out in this Summer's bush-fires.

The Monaro Highway quickly zoomed us to Cann River and back onto the Princes Highway where we turned north and zoomed once again, turning off at Drummer Road to enjoy the rainforest walk there in the Alfred National Park. This took us on a loop next to a tan-coloured meandering creek which was lined with a variety of pretty ferns and a forest of rainforest species including tall Mountain Ash and dark-trunked Blackwood. Tree-ferns of various heights graced the under-storey as did giant moss-covered fallen tree trunks and Coast Sword Sedge with its spear-like leaves. Two things struck me. First, that we had passed many such areas on the WB Line Track, only gaining glimpses of them at creek crossings and second, that it took a major highway to provide the only real access to such an area!

The following day, at Genoa we turned south down the Princes Highway and travelled down towards Cann River. It was a nice cool but sunny morning of blue skies but with grey-tinged clouds beginning to build up. As we travelled through the beautiful Alfred National Park I once again admired the ferny under-storey that covered its steep mountain sides.

 We listened to a radio interview with Greg Mullet, commissioner of the NSW Fire Brigade and his talking about bush fires reminded us of the danger side of this landscape. Freakily my Lonely Planet Guide’s entry on this National Park mentioned that it had been burnt out in the 1983 bush-fire. Every time we cross a river or creek, however, we can guarantee that it will contain water – this being in stark contrast to the drier areas around home, as is the greenness of the countryside we are traversing.

 Remember: People can be so quiet about their pain, that you forget they are hurting. That is why it is so important to always be kind. Gratitude App