Jennie, the Bendigo fire is at Eaglehawk, about 12 km by road from where Dot & Wayne are living, tho as Wayne's family are 5th generation locals, he probably knows folks who live in that area.

I just spoke to them & the fire is nearer than I thought, but no danger to them.

map of victoria Bill is in Melbourne (middle, near the blue shield containing number 11), Joybell is near Hamilton (left of map, inland from coast) & my friends are in Bendigo (next to green B75). I'll be in Bendigo early March, a historic gold-mining town where 50 homes have been lost.

'Absolute devastation': Victoria gutted by deadly bushfires There are also video & audio links on this page

Nearly 60 bushfires burning across NSW Big fires are to the north & west of central Sydney, about 70km from CBD which is where I live.

sandra