@Sharyn-and-Colin0
Sharyn I am so glad the fires in Gippsland have not directly affected you but, I understand entirely what you are saying about the effect this will have on you commercially for some considerable time.
Kangaroo Island exists almost entirely on tourism and almost 3/4 of it has been burnt out. The Great Southern Lodge at Hanson Bay, one of the most exclusive accommodation venues in the country! Prices went from $1,800 per night to $4,000 per night has been totally destroyed.
As it was.......
What is left of it now........
And all that Flinders Chase with it's tame wildlife that the tourists came to see....
It could be the surface of the moon now.
The owners of the Great Southern Lodge say they will rebuild and they will be back in business within 2 years, much of the wildlife has been saved by volunteers and the whole Island community desperately hopes that the tourists will not desert them.
The Cudlee Creek fire did come within 5 Kms of us here in Mt Barker but was never going to be a threat to us personally and although I have had some bookings message and ask the state of things here I have not had any cancellations.
As I write this I do hear rain on the roof, maybe I won't have to water the garden today !!!
I hope all goes well for you and Colin, I would love to catch up some time on one of our regular trips to the east!
Cheers.......Rob