remember the koala...

character at the Australia Day celebrations on the Dromana foreshore...
CFA = Country Fire Authority which is a volunteer and community based
fire and emergency organisation...
The koala costume symbolises a little burnt koala
who was offered water by a firefighter some years ago...
He became a mascot...


little koala
saved by human kindness
and water 


Linking to:
Monday Mellow Yellows


NOTE - My Meme
Scenic Weekends (links opened Saturday)

Sam Lives On

Pic by Gemma Wiseman ~ The fire brigade was on parade at the Western Port 2011 Festival at Hastings, Mornington Peninsula.
It is now becoming popular for one fireman to wear the face of a koala.
This new tradition relates to the story of Sam Koala.
He became an icon of hope in the midst of tragedy.
Sam was discovered in burnt bushland on Samson Road on 1st February 2009, during a defensive back-burning operation in Mirboo North, 150 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.
Mark Pardew, a firefighter for the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), photographed Sam receiving water from the drink bottle of Country Fire Authority (CFA) firefighter, David Tree. - see Museum Victoria for more of Sam's story
~
Ruby Tuesday meme
~

Fire can be tragic
Homes and lives can be erased
Koala of hope
~


Hosted by maryt/the teach @ Work of the Poet

CFA Sorrento

Pic by Gemma Wiseman ~ Entrance to the Sorrento, Mornington Peninsula branch of the CFA.
The Country Fire Authority has now evolved to become one of the world's largest volunteer based emergency management organisations.
There are currently more than 1,200 CFA brigades servicing the operational areas throughout regional Victoria (except state forests and parks) and outer metropolitan Melbourne.
See the CFA website for more details.
~
Ruby Tuesday meme
~

Selfless volunteers
So many victims of fires
CFA saves lives
~