DUNCAN Newcomen will be alright, because he’s alive.
On Saturday night at 9pm he could hear the roar of the fire for about an hour before it started licking at his Ashwood Park property, Flowerdale.
“We stood here and fought the bastard,” Mr Newcomen said.
Too late to leave, Mr Newcomen stood with two others and defended his own property and those of his neighbours.
The second time in just two years their property had burnt out, Mr Newcomen said the fire was unlike anything he had experienced.
“You don’t get time to think about it.
“It’s frightening, a very frightening experience.
“I never want to experience it again.”
Lucky to save their house and bull selling centre, land, hay and fences were lost.
“It was pure luck in a lot of ways.
“We fought it until it got to the back door and managed to hold it off; it’s not much fun.”
Their Charolais herd survived, but some have been badly burnt.
“It’s an amazing experience because we managed to push some cattle back through the flames, how they managed to survive I don’t know.”
Speaking from the cab of his truck, currently shifting a load of cattle onto agistment land at Nagambie, Mr Newcomen said they would be alright and were more concerned for other people who had lost lives or homes in the fire.
“It’s going to be a long haul, but we’ll get back.”
Their annual Charolais CQC bull sale will be going ahead on March 18.
