BLACK SATURDAY

Stories of love, loss and courage from the 2009 Victorian bushfires

edited by JOHN McGOURTY

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New softcover book, 288 pages, published 2009.

Black Saturday is Australia's worst national disaster with over 170 people dead and more than 400 people injured. Over 1800 homes were destroyed along with hopes and dreams of a peaceful community living in the leafy hills on Melbourne's fringes.

Black Saturday is a tale of everyday people who, when fate demanded, became heroes. In Kinglake, Peter Thorneycroft stood defiantly in shorts and thongs hosing down the roof of the local pub where 20 women and children sheltered inside. In Marysville, five policemen saved the lives of countless residents as they ignored burning embers raining from the sky and ushered them to the safety of the local cricket oval. The fires also brought a new-found resilience. Those most affected by the fires have found hope amongst the ash - for a brighter, safer tomorrow.

This book is the personal story of Black Saturday told by those that survived the flames and those who came to their help. It also contains accounts from journalists who covered the fires as well as first-hand tales from those who helped co-ordinate the emergency response.

The Black Saturday bushfires were a series of bushfires that ignited or were burning across the Australian state of Victoria on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009. The fires occurred during extreme bushfire-weather conditions and resulted in Australia's highest ever loss of life from a bushfire; 173 people died and 414 were injured as a result of the fires.

As many as 400 individual fires were recorded on 7 February. Following the events of 7 February 2009 and its aftermath, that day has become widely referred to as Black Saturday.

Black Saturday: Stories of love, loss and courage from the Victorian bushfires edited by John McGourty