A few weeks from now will mark the anniversary of the ignition of the Currowan fire, a remote blaze that grew into a monster which imperilled the South Coast for more than 70 days.
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Of course, the fire emergency was fixed firmly in our gaze well before it erupted north west of Batemans Bay. For weeks we had watched the flames exact their terrible toll on the north and mid-north coasts.
We had already shed tears for the people and the animals caught up in the conflagration that seemed to be consuming the entire eastern seaboard.
Every night we watched as town after town came under threat and whole hamlets were consumed. Only the hardest of hearts was not moved by the sight of our cherished koalas crying out in pain as they struggled to get to safety on their burnt feet.
Then Currowan brought the rolling disaster to our doorstep. In a matter of days, the fire was running towards the coast, community meetings were held and we all braced for the worst.
And the worst kept coming.
This was such a major event in our lives, it seems unbelievable that a year has almost passed. Of course, other disasters of equal or greater magnitude have rolled over the top of us since then.
The floods of February, the pandemic in March, then the lockdown.
No wonder so many of us are feeling exhausted. It's as if 2020 won't give us a break. As we breathe a sigh of relief that summer is almost here - we're told less dangerous than the last - we cast a nervous eye to the northern hemisphere. There, the pandemic has roared back with such vengeance, new lockdowns have been imposed and another winter of discontent is on the way.
And, looking over shoulder at the coronavirus as we have to is tiring in itself. COVID fatigue is everywhere and it's dangerous. While our hearts want it to be over, our heads should tell us it isn't and we need to remain vigilant.
So how are people coping?
It seems we're rediscovering old pastimes that take our minds momentarily off the bad news.
Surf shops the length of the coast have done a roaring trade, which has easily made up for the losses of summer when the fires shut everything down. Likewise, bicycle shops.
Tiring ourselves out through exercise helps to relieve disaster fatigue.