Extreme conditions of Australia

[Clodhopper]

Cripes. I hadn't realised it had got so bad.

Best of luck to all of you. Hope you don't need it.

[Ally]

Originally Posted by fuzzywuzzy

I think your last paragraph is more the truth . Australia's climate is severe but it is cyclic. Every twenty or so years we have this Bush fire situation and the drought as it stands happened at the turn of the last century also. .......problem is we forget. Then someone gets out their grandfathers weather records from a century and half ago and it all makes sense.

We're ready and every one knows (and hopefully) has their fire plan ready . My children have their "fire" bag packed and if i'm called away they are to go to the boat ramp and stay there until someone comes to collect them. They're pretty switched on but both their parents are going to be busy.......good time to understand self resilience. My children didn't experience Ash wednesday so they are going in green ...they wont' be afterwards if the **** hits the fan . But I suppose it's like those who live in tornadoe areas, your children have to learn sometime.

Your right there fuzzy we do forget, justsaw the other day some program about weather in Oz quite some time ago that it was hotter then than it is now so it dose fluctuate quite a bit.Bit of old Bango Paterson i love a sunburnt country of drouts and flooding plains................sums it up nicely.Still the best country in the world.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Nah it wasn't Banjo, I think this was written to the realisation that we weren't living in England anymore. but it is a most beautiful poem and sums our land up very nicely.

Dorothea MacKellar (1908: written 1906)



The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded Lanes,
Of ordered woods and gardens,
Is running in your veins;
Strong love of grey-blue distance,
Brown streams and soft, dim skies -
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me.

The tragic ring-barked forests
Stark white beneath the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes
Where lithe lianas coil,
An orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the crimson soil.

Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at heart around us
We see the cattle die -
But then the grey clouds gather
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold;
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.

An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land -
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand -
Though Earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown Country
My homing thoughts will fly.

[Odie]

Extreme heat conditions are expected to worsen in the southeast


Article from: The Australian

VICTORIA could be facing its worst-ever weekend of fire danger, with the heatwave over Australia's southeast expected to deliver conditions more extreme than those that led to the deadly Ash Wednesday fires of 1983.

A total fire ban will be in force over the state today, with firefighters fearing a repeat of the historic blaze that killed 75 people.

Firefighters in South Australia and NSW will also be poised to act, with extreme fire danger predicted in both states.

The chief officer of Victoria's Country Fire Authority gave an ominous warning yesterday, saying predicted temperatures in the mid-40s and high winds could produce the worst conditions in the state's history.

"I think we're in a period of unprecedented weather -- weather that perhaps we have never had in the state of Victoria in respect of fire danger," chief officer Russell Rees said. "I make this plea to everybody in our community. We need to plan, to be ready, and to put every ounce of our effort into staying safe."

Melbourne's forecast of 43C tomorrow could see another weather record fall, with 43.2C the previous highest February temperature recorded in 1983.

Adelaide is set for another round of punishment, with 43C forecast for today and 41C tomorrow. Adelaide's State Emergency Service chief officer, Stuart Macleod, warned that the next two days would be critical as temperatures rose again after a short period of relief from a run of days above 40C in which a record 600 people were admitted to hospital with heat-related illnesses.

During the peak of Adelaide's nine-day hot spell, the city recorded six days over 40C, including a maximum of 45.7C on January 28.

Sydney is bracing for its turn to be roasted. Airconditioning businesses in the city are struggling to keep up with demand as customers order last-minute installations in the face of a weekend of temperatures in the 40s.



now this is to hot!

[Amber Sun]

Originally Posted by fuzzywuzzy

Nah it wasn't Banjo, I think this was written to the realisation that we weren't living in England anymore. but it is a most beautiful poem and sums our land up very nicely.

Dorothea MacKellar (1908: written 1906)



The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded Lanes,
Of ordered woods and gardens,
Is running in your veins;
Strong love of grey-blue distance,
Brown streams and soft, dim skies -
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me.

The tragic ring-barked forests
Stark white beneath the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes
Where lithe lianas coil,
An orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the crimson soil.

Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at heart around us
We see the cattle die -
But then the grey clouds gather
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold;
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.

An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land -
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand -
Though Earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown Country
My homing thoughts will fly.

Thanks for typing this out fuzzy, it certainly is a beautiful poem

[Sunshine]

Originally Posted by Odie

Extreme heat conditions are expected to worsen in the southeast




During the peak of Adelaide's nine-day hot spell, the city recorded six days over 40C, including a maximum of 45.7C on January 28.

Sydney is bracing for its turn to be roasted. Airconditioning businesses in the city are struggling to keep up with demand as customers order last-minute installations in the face of a weekend of temperatures in the 40s.



now this is to hot!

114 F. is unbearable anywhere. I've been to Sydney but the weather was perfect..spring there then. Hope you all can stay cool and don't forget your pets, they suffer as well.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Yeah I was talking to one of the mums at the school this morning and she said she had to bring her dog inside and throw buckets of water over her goats, I'm worried about our rabbit. I've been told to put a frozen bottle of water in the hutch so he can lay over it.

See the problem is we prepare for these 43's and 45's but that's only Melbourne once you get out a bit further it's hotter. like I said before it was 46 to 48 out on our back verandar the other week. We have a weather station so I know it was accurate. and the next town on got even higher. shockin stuff, so it doesn't surprise me of the deaths in SA.

[kayleneaussie]

OK, you are fine then. If you know others that don't have air-conditioning give them a tip for me please.

As you know Kayle the glands in the body can't become too overheated. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to heat stroke which can prove deadly. The glands cannot become too overheated.

Tell whoever when they get up in the morning to fill the bath tub with lukewarm water, not cold water and no oil or whatever, just plain lukewarm water. Then just leave the water to come to room temp. When the person gets too hot they can get into the tub until their body cools down. The water will feel like ice at first but it is an indication of how hot the body has become. When he/she starts to feel cold then they can get out and dry off. But they aren't to use soap etc because it isn't to be used as bath water, just cooling down water. Tell him/her to leave the water in the tub at room temp and use it throughout the day. Before bedtime they can use it once more then drain the water and immediately refill it again with luke warm water. Should they need it throughout the night the water will once again be room temp. Tell whoever also that when getting into the tub that they must submerge as much of their body and head in the water (leaving the face out of course). This is very important that they get the cool water on their head and the back of their neck, the arm pits and the groin.

For those that are out working they can fill the tub in the morning and use it when they get home. Not everyone works in air-conditioned offices.

I really wish that I could help you all in some way Kayle, but this is the most I can do. For those that listen to you it will save them from heat stroke and in some cases death. Perhaps you can phone your friends and pass the message to them because they may have elderly friends or relatives that will listen.

Thanks Kayle.


Local Time: 11:52 PM
Local Date: 02-05-2009

Amber put this in the focer thread and thought it might be a good idea to put it on here Thanks to Amber for the information

[fuzzywuzzy]

hhhmmm just got the call I'm on first strike team tomorrow if things go pearshaped. Bugger. Wouldn't have minded the nightshift but beggers cant be chooses. Better get ready . Kayle,keep that little girl cool, pammy stay cool . Ally I want your weather minus the cyclones. I'll catch up with ya's when I get back.

cheers guys

[kayleneaussie]

Originally Posted by fuzzywuzzy

hhhmmm just got the call I'm on first strike team tomorrow if things go pearshaped. Bugger. Wouldn't have minded the nightshift but beggers cant be chooses. Better get ready . Kayle,keep that little girl cool, pammy stay cool . Ally I want your weather minus the cyclones. I'll catch up with ya's when I get back.

cheers guys

you look after yourself Fuzz and thanks for the hard work you do your one in a million