Thanks, Sandra. Thought about a thread of it's own but couldn't spare the time. Did have time to do a copy and paste though. Here's my latest upadate:

We've just come off "High alert. Activate your fire plan NOW". It's the first time our little community has had a mention on National Radio. Our wonderful voluteer firefighters (they didn't call on True-love, he's among the oldest of them) managed to put it out before it reached us. It was as close as 10 kms. We still have power. So far we're cool.
There are three fires of concern around us but they're not so close -- yet. One is to the West -- from where the wind is blowing -- but there's a big regional town between us and that fire.

My daughter lives East of Melbourne a mountain ridge away from the big fire in the Bunyip State Forest that's moving in on the small towns around it. So far the wind's blowing that fire away from her but there's a change blowing in.
Joy