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Bushfires |
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Bushfires |
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By Georgia Curry
A mass grave has been dug for 600 sheep and cattle at the National Equestrian Centre on Cotter Road.
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As well as livestock, 1500ha of land and the family home were incinerated.
Incredibly, all of the centre's 120 horses were saved.
The crisis now facing owners Bronwyn and John Lowe, who have run the centre for 15 years, is feeding the horses and keeping what livestock they have alive - all grass has been burned and the property is a dustbowl.
Mr Lowe, dressed in clothes donated by friends said, "I'm trained in agriculture but I've never seen anything like this. The damage to the soil is just unbelievable, the immense heat that was here was just beyond description."
While Mr Lowe fought the fire at the property, his other house in Chapman burned to the ground.
His house on the property was also destroyed, along with a heritage-listed wool shed that pre-dated the Yarralumla Wool Shed. All that remains is the National Equestrian Centre office, a cottage, mangled pieces of metal and charred tools.
The grim task of destroying the remaining injured livestock has fallen to the Lowe's daughter, veterinarian Arianne Lowe.
An urgent plea has gone out for 30 to 40 bales of hay a day, needed to feed the centre's 120 horses.
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With the country in drought, Mr Lowe does not expect any growth on the blackened property until May.
The loss continued for employee Robert Jenkins, who lost his four-wheel-drive vehicle and horse float while helping the Lowe's save the horses.
A water tanker that was set up ready to fight the fire was also lost, its tires melted. It wasn't even used.
Any donations of hay, fencing materials or a generator can be made by calling 0417 433 536 or 0407 231 984 or delivering it directly to the National Equestrian Centre, Cotter Road.
This article appeared in The Canberra Times, Wednesday 22 January 2003.
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Last modified: 6 February 2003
Author: Haydn Lowe |
