Welcome to #WATWB We Are The World Blogfest for February-ish 2020. Our co-hosts this month are:
Sylvia McGrath,
Peter Nena,
Shilpa Garg,
Eric Lahti,
and Belinda Witzenhausen.
Please hop on over to check out their pages and any others with the #WATWB.
I’m late! And… I can’t blame the short month. Meanwhile, did you….
hear about a fridge for firies?
Sourced from The Canberra Times – National Museum of Australia curator Craig Middleton, left, inspects the Bungendore roadside fridge with owners Scott and Claire Hooper. The fridge has been donated to the national collection. Picture: George Serras, National Museum of Australia.
The Canberra times reports it was the fridge by the roadside that stood as a symbol of community spirit through a harsh, dry summer, harbouring icy poles, drinks and snacks for the firefighters trekking back and forth along the Kings Highway.
At first, Claire Hooper was not convinced at the idea of her husband to put a fridge out the front of their house. It was intended for refreshing passing fire fighters. Scott convinced her and the adventure began as the Canberra Times continues the story.
Firefighters left memorabilia – helmets, masks and brigade badges – with the Hooper family, thanking them. People kept coming from far and wide came to keep the fridge full.
“The New Zealand guys were here – they were here for a seven-day stretch – and they stopped in to say thank you.
“We’re trying to take photos of them, and they’re making us stand next to the fridge; they’re trying to take photos of us. And we were like, ‘Guys, no. Come on’,” Mrs Hooper said. “It’s just been unreal.”
For many weeks fires raged across Australia. Much of our forests in the Eastern States were destroyed. Smoky haze covered our cities and towns. Some folk on the South Coast were evacuated and returned to their homes multiple times. In the midst of all the horror local stories emerged. It is truly wonderful to be able to tell this local one.
A local radio station MIX 106.3 even organised a convoy to celebrate the fridge and the Coopers generosity in donating it.
It truly is a sight to see people doing such down-to-earth things to make a difference in dark times. Cheers to all who contributed!
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Simon's still stanza 
What a nice gesture. It really is the little things that make life worth living.
Yes, Dan. Those little things indeed. I like that the goodness caught on and spread to a radio station and the National Museum of Australia. It’s something we can look on in gratitude over a beer from the fridge!
Hi Simon – that is a wonderful idea … and must have been such a relief to so many fire-fighters … just a brief respite and some liquid refreshment … loved the post – thank you … cheers Hilary
Cheers it is, Hilary! A relief for fire-fighters. It’s great that some of the international helpers, like New Zealand, got to enjoy it as well.
Such a kind gesture. We need more of these positive stories for sure. Thank you for sharing!
A kind gesture it is, Damyanti. Such simple spontaneity. More of it, yes!
Thank you for sharing Simon, it is so nice to see something positive come out of such a disaster. I am sure the people trying to put out the fires were thankful for such a kind thought.
They did seem thankful, Sylvia. Some of those days were so hot and the firies would have truly parched. It met their very real needs.
What a feel-good story, Simon. I love hearing about folks giving unselfishly and kindly like this. Thanks very much for sharing.
It was unselfish, Lizbeth. They have even then given the fridge away to the National Museum of Australia. I was very happy to share.