Kiff Saunders (left) and Nick Brau who with fellow employee John Stone, fought to save the shed housing hundreds of thousands of dollars in ballooning equipment.By Kath Gannaway
LOOKING out over blackened hills and paddocks surrounding Global Ballooning’s Dixons Creek base, Kiff Saunders says he has much to be grateful for.
Global’s director and chief pilot says he simply doesn’t have the words to thank employees Nick Brau and John Stone for going way beyond their job descriptions on Black Saturday.
“Their incredible effort saved Global’s 10 balloons, six vehicles and ancilliary equipment valued conservatively at over $750,000," Kiff said as he and Nick walked last week among wicker baskets and gas bottles in the timber and corrugated iron storage sheds whose job it is mostly to shelter the equipment from the rain.
The dedication of his staff, he said was overwhelming. “How can you thank someone for putting their life on the line to protect your business,” he said, at a loss to find the words to express his gratitude.
All three had their own homes to protect. Kiff was at Steels Creek fighting to save his house as the fire progressed towards the Melba Highway. Nick lives in a house just metres from the balloon storage sheds, and John and his family also live close by.
Like so many who tell their story of the day, Nick said the wind played a critical role.
“It caught me by surprise,” he said. I was looking at the fire close to Balgownie, but it was a northerly wind at that stage so although I was aware that the fire was close, I was not necessarily worried at that point.”
A strong south-westerly change pushed the fire towards the property.
John arrived to help and it was just 10 minutes before they were fighting back flames.
With a huge amount of propane gas in the sheds – along with wicker baskets and other equipment, they raced to surround the sheds with fire extinguishers and started up all the vehicles – ready to drive them out if need be.
“The storm hit us and John was on one side of the shed watering it down with a hose and I was running around with the extinguishers putting out any fires which came close,” Nick said.
The open-ended main shed acted like a tunnel, pulling in the embers and smoke.
“There was 10 minutes of intense heat and wind and so much smoke I couldn’t breathe in there; that’s when you start to think this is how people can die,” he said.
With the sheds surrounded by gravel, the fire passed quickly and the heat from the fire went with it allowing him to get out of the shed and protect against spot fires.
Nick said ballooning was a team effort, but that he had never been more happy to see John.
“He felt confident his house was well prepared,” he said. “But still he left his house to come and help me which I find absolutely remarkable.”
With the shed safe, the men turned their efforts to their respective houses.
Nick said he knew if the fire reached the trees around the house, it would be lost.
“It was constant … just hours and hours of pouring bucket after bucket of water on spot fires to save the house.”
Kiff said the events of 7 February had been challenging both physically and emotionally with six staff members forced to defend their homes in frightening circumstances.
“We almost lost our homes and our livelihood in one fell swoop,” he said. “Now we are all extremely eager to get back to the place we were before the fires.”
Tourism will play a critical role in getting the Yarra Valley back on its feet economically and socially, but Kiff says getting that message out is a delicate road to tread.
“Certainly I’m finding it difficult to navigate my way through the sensitivities of the situation – coming to terms with the tremendous loss of life and assets that has occurred around my home, yet also desperate to rise up and keep moving,” he said.
“I understand the cancellations, why the phones have gone quiet, but I also have an incredible need to convince our customers and anyone that the Yarra Valley needs their support; even just coming out for a drive and having a coffee or attending a market.
“My wonderful lifestyle out here is based on all of the wonderful, eclectic businesses that define this region,” he says. “It would be a sad thing to see any of these people struggle in the near future.”
For Nick and John, having saved the business from the fire front, they are not about to see it falter in the wake of the bushfires.
