#corryong

It was little more than an ugly haze in the sky before I finished work, a soft but eerie glow when I tried to sleep, and by the time I took this picture, it had become an apocalyptic hellscape.

I’m hearing horror stories about people losing their houses, we’ve had distraught phone calls from family and friends, and frantic social media updates from people in the neighboring town of Cudgewa.

I am grateful for the diligent work of fire fighters and volunteers, despite against their best efforts, nature seems to be working against them with wind changing direction as if on a whim.

I am incredibly lucky to only be a panicking observer during this horrible event, I don’t know what to do or how to help these people, I only hope that those who have evacuated are safe, and those that are fighting the fires are successful, at least to some kind of degree.

Sir Arthur Ernest Streeton (1867-1943) - Towong Gap

Oil on canvas. Painted in 1930.

25.2 x 30 inches, 63.9 x 76.3 cm. Estimate: Aus$100,000-150,000.