每週話題
同路人語 579 作好山火逃生準備 周偉文
同路人語 579 作好山火逃生準備 周偉文
最近熱浪襲澳洲，差不多所有大城巿氣溫都在40度以上，南澳的奧吉士打港氣溫達49.5度。高溫下的澳洲，不少地方山火不絕。十年前的2月7日，維州發生了有史以來最大的山火，稱為黑色星期六。不單是離墨爾本數十公里外，有百多年歷史美麗的旅遊鎮瑪利維被夷為平地，以及大幅山林及過萬的房屋被數週山火燒燬，這一次山火災難更奪去173條寶貴的生命。
對於從大城巿來的華人移民，大家都會對山火感到陌生。不過每年12月到2月山火季節中，到鄉村度假的華人也不少，因此我們都有需要去認識及瞭解山火的形成、防備及危險，更重要的是要知道當遇上山火時，要如何面對及認識各種逃生的策略。由於華人移民都不熟識澳洲，因此常常低估了山火的危險。
澳洲聯邦政府，去年撥出款項，用在山火教育，特別是讓公眾明白不同等級山火的危險分類，可惜的是資訊全都是以英語傳播，沒有針對新來的移民，特別是不懂得英語的華人。其實，新來澳洲的華人，因著沒有碰過這些情境及欠缺這方面的知識，是高危一族。
本刊在藉黑色星期六十周年紀念，在墨爾本各年巿活動（包括2月2日在博士山；2月3日在史賓威；2月9日在萬年興及2月17日在格蘭威非利），特設攤位，提供展覽，介紹這一次山火的嚴重，及有關山火成因、預防及逃生策略，更派發如何應付山火的單張，盼望能幫助華人掌握如何面對山火，歡迎讀者們來到與我們交流。
我記得10年前，我們敬重的一位華人宣教士，在退休後回到墨爾本，協助在鄉村的戒毒工作，就在黑色星期六中失去了生命。我懷念這位忠心神的僕人，盼望這些不幸事件不會再發生。我盼望通過這一連串的展覽，能讓我們這十年新來到澳洲的朋友，明白山火的危險。
農歷新年將至，在這裏謹祝各位讀者新年進步，滿載平安！
Get prepared for bush fire evacuation Raymond Chow
Australia id under recent heat wave attack. Many capital cities got over 40 degrees and Port Augusta in SA hit 49.5 degree. Bush fire is not uncommon under extreme heat. 7th of February ten years ago a record-breaking Black Saturday bush fire happened in Victoria. A beautiful country town Marysville was turned into rubbles, hectares of bushy land and thousands of dwelling were burnt out, resulting in a total of 173 deaths.
Bush fire is something new to most immigrants from other major Asian cities. But during the hot season December to February each year many of them also go into the country for holidays. We feel they need the basic knowledge of bush fire, how to prevent it, be alert of it and more important how to evacuate in case of a outbreak. They used to under estimate the risk due to a lack of local understanding.
The federal government approved grant last year to educate the public about the categories of bush fire but unfortunately all in English meaning some new immigrants could not understand. Actually this category of Chinese immigrants without local exposure belongs to the high risk group.
Sameway takes this ‘Black Saturday 10th Remembrance’ timing to hold stall activities, to setup exhibition and to distribute information pamphlets campaigning for the safety issues of bush fire including lunar new year events to be held in Boxhill on Feb 2, Springvale on Feb 3, Manningham on Feb 9 and Glen Waverley on Feb 17. We welcome your support and contribution in the interest of Chinese vulnerable to the risk.
I remember 10 years ago there was a Chinese missionary who retired back to Melbourne; she became a victim of the Black Saturday bush fire as she worked on drug rehabilitation duties in the country area. I respect and miss this God’s servant and I don’t want to see any recurrence again. I hope through our campaign activities and exhibitions we can benefit immigrants who came ashore over the past 10 years.
Chinese New Year is coming. We wish you all a peaceful and prospectus new year.
