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"Every able-bodied man in Powelltown was called out to try to check a fire which was burning fiercely." |
 Powelltown is Threatened
Women and Children Leave the Town – Fate of Four Mills Uncertain – Fifty Men Isolated
11 January 1939
Early yesterday every able-bodied man in Powelltown was called out to try to check a fire which was burning fiercely in the heavily timbered country north of the settlement ...At 8 pm to-night telephone communication with Powelltown was interrupted. Police at Yarra Junction had earlier received an SOS call for assistance. The alarm bell was rung, the male population of Yarra Junction mustered and sent out to Powelltown. Just before nightfall streams of women and children, refugees from the threatened township, began to arrive on foot at Yarra Junction. [A, 11/1/39] 11 January 1939
While thunder rolled and lightning flashed the fires, which reached uncontrollable proportions in the Erica district during the last two days, reached the outskirts of the township tonight, terrorising the residents. Many removed their belongings to safety. [A, 11/1/39] Read more about the Powelltown bushfires in 1939 in the Oral History Section |
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2003 AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FILM VICTORIA & MOIRA FAHY Produced with the assistance of the ABC - Film Victoria Multimedia Production Accord   |