Comments on: Sending Lurve & Prayers To Our Aussie Friends

By: Georgie

Georgie — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:16:30 +0000

hey trent – i’m an aussie, from melbourne. Thank you for posting this – everyone go easy on Emily though. Its been hard for us all. its just… horrible, what has happened. the weather conditions made the fire behave in such an abnormal way that even those who would have been sufficiently prepared for a ‘normal’ acting bushfire, perished because it was simply too, too strong

but seriously, letting people know they can help is great. thank you for highlighting this cause – apologies for the rambling email i sent you when this happened – i think i was probs in shock.. still am to an extent. watching/reading the news has become unbearable, but we can’t stop

ALSO – the arsonist allegedly responsible for lighting the ChurchHill fire, which killed, so far, 10 people has been CHARGED on three counts. lets hope he gets the maximum sentence.

By: Georgie

Georgie — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:14:18 +0000

hey trent – i’m an aussie also. Thank you for posting this – everyone go easy on Emily though. Its been hard for us all. its just… horrible, what has happened. the weather conditions made the fire behave in such an abnormal way that even those who would have been sufficiently prepared for a ‘normal’ acting bushfire, perished because it was simply too, too strong

ALSO – the arsonist allegedly responsible for lighting the ChurchHill fire, which killed, so far, 10 people has been CHARGED on three counts. lets hope he gets the maximum sentence.

By: Megan

Megan — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:59:55 +0000

Well you got me. I had to donate. I feel so bad for everyone thats been affected, such a tragedy.

By: kf

kf — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:45:56 +0000

IM NOT AN AUSSIE BUT I LOVE KOALAS: IM DONATING

By: Gemma

Gemma — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:28:04 +0000

Another aussie that reads your blog daily and has also lost family in the Victorian bushfires…
Thankyou for raising awareness and all the well wishes and donations that have been made… its appreciated more than you could ever know and I personally and sincerly thankyou.

By: Lara

Lara — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:52:48 +0000

Hi Trent, I am Australian, and read your blog everyday. Thank you so much for posting about the fires and thank you to all the people who have donated.

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:56:40 +0000

Hey Trent, I’m an Auzzie as well and also a dedicated reader of your blog. Just like to say thanks to you and many other Americans for taking an interest and donating. So many people have lost so much that every little bit helps. Once again thanks, it means more then you could ever imagine.

By: debho

debho — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:12:02 +0000

Oh, and thankyou Trent for posting this story. I mentioned this tragedy a few days ago and was lambasted by another reader who told me in no uncertain terms that this was purely a celebrity blog and no one particulary cared about what was going on down here. I’m so glad this person is in the minority.

By: debho

debho — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:10:04 +0000

I’m an Aussie too. The irony of all this is that while Victoria is on fire, my state of Queensland is in flood. It hasn’t stopped raining here for 2 weeks and my town is surrounded by water. Further north of my town, people are being evacuated because the flood waters have invaded their homes.Ugh, if only we could send this rain down south to our mates in Victoria. It’s all so tragic.
Thank you to all of you who have donated money. It will be much appreciated by those who desperately need it.

By: hannybanny

hannybanny — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:48:54 +0000

This made me burst into tears! What an empathetic heart you have, Trent.
<3 yet another of your Oz readers :)

By: mimi

mimi — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:46:24 +0000

Another aussie here – I just wanted to thank you for drawing attention to the bushfires in Victoria. It’s absolutely horrific that some of the fires were deliberately lit, and what the victims went through (and still are going through) is truly heartbreaking and very traumatic.. These were just regular, everyday Australians who didnt have a hope once those fires escalated out of control. Also, its believed over 1 million animals died in the fires, which is absolutely awful. It seems that most people know someone who was affected in one way or another, and it is just so terrible to hear the stories.
.
Your donations (and you calling upon others to donate) is very touching. At the very least, this tragedy has shown how wonderful the human spirit is, and how lovely it is that people can unite to support each other and show their generosity. Thank you for your kindness :)

By: emma

emma — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:23:23 +0000

Trent, thankyou for taking an interest in whats going on down here. I live in Melbourne, Victoria’s capital, and though I did not experience the horrors of the fires, not much of the state can claim to be so lucky. The donations being made, not only here, but by other countries, including America, have overwhelmed us.
and the koala is the same one that was being fed water by the cfa worker, to those that have commented about this.

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:29:20 +0000

The fire was really close to my sister-in-law and a couple of cousins’ houses. Luckily theirs all survived, but so many didn’t.
And Koala are not bears.

By: jas

jas — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:09:09 +0000

thank you so much for posting this… so many people are dead and injured it is really sad. im from australia and it is really devastating us all here and everyone is doing whatever they can to help. thank you :)
also anyone who donates, thank you as well. you guys are great.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:00:31 +0000

omg those poor animals….and people of course. my heart is broken

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:19:28 +0000

@ Emily-I don’t think that Trent ever said “donate to animals not people”. I’m glad he posted pics of animals, people should be reminded that this is more than “just some houses” there were homes and lives (both people and animals) lost. He gave a link to the Red Cross to donate money to everyone suffering.

On another note, my prayers go out to everyone, those who lost their homes and loved ones and I also pray that no more lives, human or animal, are lost.

By: It's Trent, Bitch!

It's Trent, Bitch! — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:36:01 +0000

@emily — the Australian Red Cross is accepting donations for the people affected by the tragedy. I chose not to post photos of dead people in lieu of the suffering koalas … mebbe a little restraint in your accusatory comments next time?

By: jade

jade — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:26:25 +0000

thank you so much for mentioning this, as an australian it really means a lot
about 200 people have died in this horrific disaster. although a koala really is the least of thousands of peoples worries, it does mean a lot that you care.
thanks for donating. the australian red cross needs every bit they can.

By: emily

emily — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:08:37 +0000

183 people have died and you put up a photo of a koala? im all really glad you guys think thats its sad the koala got burnt. im australian and i lvoe this blog but thats just ridicolous. how bout u send some support to the 6000 people that lost homes and family and friends and not just to the koalas.

By: Jess

Jess — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:53:18 +0000

Thank you to everyone who has donated, Lord knows they need it. I’m in Sydney, but my best friend can’t get in touch with her grandmother in Victoria, they’re worried she was killed in the fires. Its all so sad.
And THANK YOU to the US for sending over some of your firefighters to help the cause. Australia definitely appreciates it =)
Trent, you’re awesome. Thanks for devoting an entire post, and thank you even more for donating. Every little bit counts!

By: Feel Good Story of the Day « All Sorts of Awesome

Feel Good Story of the Day « All Sorts of Awesome — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:59:16 +0000

[...] Pink Is The New Blog- for some more cute photos Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Meet Roxie!!!!!Cute Koala Videos9 Biggest Losers Sent Packing, Blogosphere is RantingKoala love tale provides relief [...]

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:52:10 +0000

From a Victorian who has lost friends in these horrible bushfires, I thank you for thinking of us. Am truly impressed with your global awareness. Keep Australia in your prayers.

By: Ayesha

Ayesha — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:50:28 +0000

Trent! Thank you MILLIONS for posting a story about the Victorian bushfires, they have completely devastated so many innocent peoples lives, killed so many families and animals. The photos of the thirsty koalas were from the heat wave they had the weekend before the bushfires (46 degrees!) where koalas were even stopping cyclists and cars on the roads for hope of finding water from humans, baring in mind these are normally extremely timid animals. As you know, their relief (if any) was short lived, a few days later bushfires ripped up 1/3 of the state, (I cannot comprehend what would’ve driven someone to think lighting these bushfires was a good idea). You may have seen the picture of a fireman giving “Sam” the koala water from his own water bottle in the burnt out forest. Thanks to him that Koala is now recovering from 3rd degree burns in a shelter. As that picture shows a little bit goes a long way! I live in Brisbane and it is gut wrenching waking up every morning and seeing yet another devastating result of someones random act of pure stupidity. I read your blog every day and it gave me tingles to see that you are doing your bit to raise people’s awareness about the help they can give our neighbours! :)
Thank you! x0

By: Dixie Chicks Fan

Dixie Chicks Fan — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:56:43 +0000

Thanks for caring Trent and to everyone else who does. This is just heartbreaking to watch and to imagine the terror these people suffered through. Anyhow I have to stop thinking about it because it makes me cry, but I just wanted to add, for the people who weren’t aware, wild koalas are actually violent (when disturbed) and use their claws to slash their attacker. So I’m amazed that these koalas are allowing humans to get so close to them, to me it shows that they really are on their last legs, that they somehow understand that they need to trust these people and work together to save their own lives. Amazing. Have a look at this vid, but have a tissue ready!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XSPx7S4jr4

By: Nadine

Nadine — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:47:16 +0000

This is truly heartbreaking. Those koalas are so adorable. It made me cry. I truly feel for all the people in Australia who have been affected by these devastating fires. It is horrible.