Hopes are rising that scrap metal forged during the summer's fires can be used for a lasting tribute to the firefighters who risked their lives to fight the 'beast'.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Walwa's Janice Newnham, from Walwa in the Upper Murray, is fundraising in the hopes of commissioning Andrew Whitehead to create a firefighter sculpture to commemorate the summer's bushfires.
"The whole disaster, the bushfire and coupled with COVID-19 has created a real blackness in our community," she said. "I think our community needs something positive to focus on.
Ms Newnham said the statue would commemorate what was lost but also celebrate the community's resilience.
"We're so grateful to our volunteer firefighters," she said. "Clearly there were paid firefighters here... but the major impact was our volunteers who were here at the beginning and stuck with us right through the whole disaster.
"Most of our volunteers are farmers and [the fire] had a massive impact on their own property yet they were going out everyday and trying to control the 'beast' that was the bushfire."
Ms Newnham said about $30,000 was needed for the sculpture and installation. She is going to investigate grant options but has also launched a go fund me campaign.
Mr Whitehead said he was excited about the prospect of a sculpture showing the stress and resilience of volunteers.