FOOTBALL
By LIAM DURKIN
MORWELL East Football-Netball Club welcomed a new name into prestigious company when Brad Gibson ran out for his 300th game last weekend.
The Hawks veteran had a milestone to remember, booting five goals in a 74-point victory over Boolarra.
Reflecting on his football journey, Gibson said it was an honour to have his name alongside those in the 300 club.
“It’s been a long time, over 21 seasons now, it’s a lot of training nights but it’s nice to join some company up there with that sort of record,” he said.
“I still remember my first senior game out on the Morwell East ground as a 17-year-old, you don’t forget that.”
Share I only had sandals at the time and they gave me a lovely pair of boots that I was able to walk around the smouldering remains of my house with, he said. I think about it every day. It s one of those things that never goes away. We were incredibly lucky that we all stayed safe.
Tragic: The comedian, 45, told 9Now he lost his property and all his belongings during the disaster, which saw 450,000 hectares of land burnt across Victoria
The Black Saturday bushfires burnt out 450,000 hectares of land and destroyed 3,500 structures.
An estimated 400 fires swept through Victoria, destroying more than 2,000 houses in its destructive path.
By Michelle Slater
Farmers and heavy machinery operators banded together to clear roads in the ranges after residents were stuck on their properties without power, phones or access for days.
Boolarra, Budgeree and Yinnar South resembled a war zone, with roads blocked by thousands of fallen trees which had taken out power lines, some houses, shedding and major infrastructure.
Yinnar South locals Ben Dawson and Marc McKinlay were just some of the community members who began clearing roads the morning after the storms ripped through.
“It was like a jet engine blowing in my face, there were trees breaking all around me,” Mr Dawson said.