Scant tales of hope

By Melissa Meehan
THE heart of the Yarra Valley was a scene of smouldering land and police roadblocks after the inferno that ripped through Yarra Glen and surrounds over the weekend.
More than 100 CFA volunteers based at the Yarra Glen fire station had been battling the blaze since 4pm on Saturday.
Yarra Glen CFA Captain Bill Boyd said that the volunteers had been working shifts but were exhausted after their efforts in Yarra Glen and surrounding areas.
“There has been significant property and stock lost,” he said on Monday morning.
“We are now busy blacking out a number of areas and expect to be doing so for number of days.”
He said volunteers from Mt Dandenong and Mooroolbark joined locals fighting fires close to the town including Steels Creek, Dixons Creek and Chum Creek.
Among the ruins, dead livestock and fallen powerlines there were some tales of good fortune.
As flames scorched the roadside Yering Station hosted a wedding for 120 guests.
Commercial director Gordon Geddie said that by the time a bus arrived to evacuate them road out of Yarra Glen were blocked.
“It was decided it was safer to go on with the ceremony and have close contact with police and all involved to ensure their safety,” he said.
When the Mail went to the press Yarra Glen residents were on high alert after continuing ember attacks on Monday.