A reflection on the blackest of Saturdays, ten years ago
A decade on from Black Saturday, Amber Brodecky, who was the director of media and communities for the Emergency Services Commissioner at the time, reflects on her experience.
As the fiery red sun sets in the sky a decade on from Australia’s worst natural disaster, the Black Saturday bushfires, I’m reflecting on a day which changed thousands of lives, including my own.
It was an emergency I was deeply ensconced in, working as the director of media and communities for the Emergency Services Commissioner. A time when in a single day 173 people died, 2,029 houses were burnt, and countless natural and physical assets were destroyed. Being part of Black Saturday was so significant in its breadth, it’s difficult to reflect on the memories of the days, weeks and months following it in a way that will do justice to the gravity of it.
7 February 2009 MODIS Aqua satellite image of smoke plumes from bushfires burning in Victoria. Source: Wikipedia
Incredible story, and for you to maintain professionalism in the face of such terror, knowing that your professionalism meant many more there, surrounding, and abroad, were able to receive the information they needed. Well done.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate the positive feedback. It was certainly a test in being able to balance an emotional situation professionally, in order get on with doing a very important job during Victoria’s darkest hour. I’ll never forget the depth of that challenge.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate the positive feedback. It certainly was a professional test in being able to balance a deeply emotional work environment, to get on with a very important job for Victorians during their darkest hour. I’ll never forget it.