Golden Valley by Marjorie Gadd

Author:Marjorie Gadd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literary Fiction Fiction-Family Life Australian Fiction
Publisher: Ashwood Publishing
Published: 2022-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15 – Tuesday 7 February 1967

Malcolm was sweating. He could feel his shirt sticking to his back and armpits. He looked out the office window. Sleeping Beauty was nowhere to be seen. The smoke was so thick he couldn’t see beyond the Golden Valley turn-off. The wind was picking up by the minute. The Council Chambers were in chaos. Malcolm was dismissed from work at eleven thirty and made his way to the fire station. Darryl was already there.

‘Mal, mate. We’ve got to do the western side of Golden Valley.’ Malcolm looked confused. ‘There’s fires out of control all over. We’ve got to get them out, Mal! Everyone! From Happy’s Road through to Willows Marsh. Tell Roj you’re coming with me.’

Malcolm found Roger Grogan looking anxiously at a map of the valley. Roger was the fire warden for the district. The logistics of moving people out of their houses in a scattered, thinly populated community were a nightmare. There was too much terrain to cover, too many isolated farmhouses, shacks and one-room huts. No-one knew for sure who lived in some of the places. Few people had telephones.

‘Take the truck, Mal,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry but it’s the last one left. It’s the garbage truck. We’ve cleaned it out. You know the area. Get everyone onto the truck and get them back here. If you can’t get through, take them down to the river. There’s plenty of spots on the lower side of the road. Opposite the dairy’s a good spot. It’s sheltered. No big trees. Can you and Darryl manage that?’

Malcolm felt a huge surge of adrenaline.

‘Come on,’ said Darryl. ‘Let’s get moving!’

The truck didn’t smell too bad. It had been hosed down, and a stained tarpaulin was folded in one corner. Darryl took the wheel and they headed up Golden Valley. At least all the children were at school – one less responsibility. They’d have to start high in the hills if they were going to cover the entire western side of the valley. Happy’s Road could wait till last. It was close to the river and not too far from town.

They passed Logger’s Road and Jeffrey’s Road and headed up to Willows Marsh. Paddy’s Turn-off was the last road in the valley. Paddy was long gone, but the Donohues lived there these days. Scotty was the youngest. Malcolm didn’t know them, except for a friendly ‘G’day’. Old man Donohue was said to be a bit of a whinger, but he was a logger of some renown. His name was Mert. Short for Myrtle.

It was a long haul up Paddy’s Turn-off to the Donohue place. Malcolm was worried that they mightn’t have enough petrol in the tank. ‘She’s right,’ said Darryl, seeing Malcolm look at the gauge. ‘She’s on full at the moment.’ Malcolm relaxed.

They got to the Donohue place and the truck was nearly boiling. They scouted around and found a jerry can inside the back door and filled it in the laundry. There was no-one around.

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