The cooler weather, and a little bit of rain, has brought some hope that the threat of more bushfire is over until next summer. The Gembrook retreat had been fairly well "fire" prepared through the continual burning off during the winter months, but with the main building located at the top of a strong gradient, facing the north, it was very vulnerable if a fire like that of Black Saturday's thundered up the valley. A frightening thought. The main building has had loads of work done to it and is still to be finished at one end, so it would be an awful shame to lose it now. When it is completed it will look a picture a sight to assure the soul.
Further down the slope is a place that we all call the Hut. It has no electricity and we have to carry in the water. This is the place we retreat to when we visit Gembrook. Here is our quiet space which we share with others who have a liking for it as well. This would have taken only seconds to be raised if a fire had passed through. We are very relieved it did not and we hope any future fire plan will be adequate to protect it. There is hate and love with fire. Fear and a desire together. Danger and necessity. It is remarkable that in just a few short days, the temperature had dropped so much that we felt the need to start a fire to make the place warm. Better a fire within, a fire to stair at, smell and reflect on. But we must respect its demonic nature.
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