They do WHAT? For how much?

Born and raised in Australia, as I have been, I am not particularly afraid of spiders, snakes and other famous 'nasties' our country is famous for.  I have a healthy respect for their potential to kill and won't deliberately put myself in harm's way, however, I don't jump and squeal if I see one.  Bushfires.  Those, I am terrified of - and I believe, rightfully so.  They can start in what seems like no time at all, move literally as fast as the wind and turn in a new direction at the drop of a hat - or cigarette butt as the case may be.

While we are fortunate enough to spend the hot days of summer taking refuge in the shade, air conditioning, pools or at the beach, our brave firefighters kiss their families goodbye, load themselves up with heavy protective clothing, drag heavy equipment with them and walk, drive and fly directly towards the flames.  They risk absolutely everything to save our land, homes, wildlife and lives.  They work day and night, in the heat and smoke that we are lucky enough to escape, then get up the next day and do it all again.  

For many of them, come payday.... nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  Zero.  Zip.  They volunteer for this stuff.  For FREE.  Does anyone else see the problem here?  We pay our football players millions of dollars each year to entertain us, but those saving our country must volunteer?  What is wrong with us?

As I write this, much of our beautiful state is ablaze.  I've been watching in horror as the many fires spread, taking some of our most spectacular scenery, robbing farmers of much needed grazing land and taking the lives of countless animals.  Families are on standby to leave their homes, taking only what they can carry and leaving the rest behind, not knowing what they will return to.  Planes and helicopters fly overhead, moving non-stop from the nearest water supply to the flames.  Vehicles carrying more of these brave men and women race towards the danger that we retreat from.

Thank you seems so insufficient.  For these sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandchildren and grandparents to drop their regular lives to save ours is unimaginable.  I can only hope that they are returned safely to their loved ones - unharmed and into loving arms.