"There was a roar, like a high wind in the distance, and Snowy Vennell said "there's a bloody big fire over there". "It looked like three of those big twisters from the USA coming at us".

"A spark must have got in, and it just went ‘boom’, and the whole valley was on fire. It was just like an explosion".

"And then the right day came, and the wind came up and then all Victoria was on fire".

"Ash was falling in South Melbourne, and it was half as big as your hand".

"I went out on the front verandah, and I waved at him as he went down around the corner. And that was the last I saw of him".