My previous post was written before the current devastation on the firegrounds in East Gippsland, Victoria and nearby areas of NSW, and on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. If you live in these areas, and have faced evacuation by vehicle or sea, the sense of unreality, uncertainty and loss is very raw at the moment. Disorienting.

Don't forget to keep your fluid intake up in the extreme heat and chaos. I expect you will want to hold your babies and children close, a form of comfort for child and adult alike, and a way of feeling safer.

For people in Canberra and other cities and towns that have had weeks of unhealthy air pollution from smoke, this is a difficult time for you, too, and similarly for people who have to be on the road with low visibility. Once again,  the emergency messages on ABC Local Radio are there to help you keep yourselves and families safe.

I'll say again that my heroes are the highly trained volunteer firefighters, who work way beyond the call of duty in uncomfortable and dangerous conditions.  Not one of them is "ordinary".  They are heroes all.