In compiling an anthology of Gippsland poetry, I came across a number of impressive poems by a William Sharp. All I knew about him at the time was that he was a late-nineteenth-century London literary figure who had visited Victoria. As it turned out, there was much more to learn of this leading figure in the Celtic Twilight movement
On February 16, 1983, over 180 fires fanned by hot winds of up to 110 km/h caused widespread destruction across both Victoria and South Australia. The Ash Wednesday bushfires were Australia’s deadliest on record at the time, claiming 75 lives.
On February 8, 1983, Melbourne was choking on dust. Trees and power lines came down and daylight turned to darkness as a giant cloud spanning 500 kilometres - from Mildura to Melbourne - dramatically engulfed the city.