Golf Vic Vol 60 No 1

UNBROKEN 2009 2019 From left, Geoff Ferguson, Kellan Fiske, Ron Jones, Lesley Rundle and Bob Emblin on one of the six bridges rebuilt after the Black Saturday bushfires. Photo: Donovan Wilson Yet, as they sat in the clubhouse, the heat became even more fierce and the weather even more menacing, so Emblin suggested they all go home and get themselves inside and out of harm’s way. “And that’s the last I saw of him. He and his older brother James and their mother perished inside their house later that night,” says Emblin quietly, still greatly affected by the horror that visited their community 10 years ago. The heartbreaking story is one of many such tales you’ll find in Kinglake, Marysville, Strathewen, St Andrews, Beechworth, Bendigo and Gippsland – of friends and family members, helpless, being engulfed by the flames which tore across the Victorian countryside that day. The fires, fanned by a howling north- westerly and then a cool change, resulted in Australia's highest ever loss of life from a bushfire, with 173 direct fatalities, a figure that later increased to 180 after seven people died from their injuries. Hundreds more were injured, thousands left homeless. Eventually 34 fatalities were confirmed in the Marysville area, with all but 14 of over 400 buildings in the township destroyed. The golf course and maintenance sheds were destroyed, including pumps, tractors, mowers, golf carts and equipment and signage, as were the six bridges crossing the Steavenson River which snakes through the layout. Somehow the clubhouse survived and it was transformed into a local hub for the Marysville community. The town itself was declared a crime scene, closed to all access for a number of weeks following the fires, but the clubhouse was situated right on the edge of the exclusion zone and became a focal point for gatherings, briefings, even funerals, and the distribution of information. Computers were set up inside the building and counsellors worked from there, dealing with those locals who’d been traumatised by the blaze. They had no shortage of work. When the course was finally re-opened, five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson turned up to join 63 other golfers for a Saturday morning competition and hit the ceremonial first tee shot. Thomson said he was delighted to be involved in the special day and humbled by the spirit of the Marysville community. "I am part of the grand fraternity of the 30 million golfers in the world who, when we hear of some club that has some trouble, all pack up and come around to see if we can help," Thomson said. "So that's why I'm here today." Like Emblin, Liz Amos is a life member at Marysville. She was one of many who worked tirelessly after the fires to get the club back into a playable state and later wrote a book about the catastrophe which includes dramatic before and after photographs. “The clubhouse was made of these cement blocks and somehow it survived the fire – it was one of the few things left standing,” Amos said. “All the holes were damaged in some way. “I used to think that if you ran down to the river and sat in the water, you’d be safe from any fire but having seen the damage afterwards, I don’t think that’s the case. All the undergrowth right down to the edge of the water was burnt. I think you’d have died of smoke inhalation.” Interestingly, that’s where Emblin himself sheltered – in the Steavenson River under a bridge, fully dressed – after he’d packed his wife off in her car and told her to get the hell out of the place. He then went to his car but was shocked to discover his keys missing. With the fire bearing down on him, he sprinted to the river and jumped in, waiting, submerged, till the worst of the inferno passed. ****** Matthew Liesfield’s winning scorecard from that day is now kept in the Marysville clubhouse and a Liesfield Trophy is held each year in honour of him and his 14-year-old brother James. Photo courtesy: Marysville Community Golf & Bowls Club Golf Victoria 23