‘LOOK MUM FIRE’ MELANI DU JARDIN OIL ON BOARD FRAMED 30 x 30 CM

LOOK MUM FIRE - MT NARDI BURNS

I will never forget the moment the fires broke out in the Nightcap National park, about 20 kilometres from where my son and I were camping, in a neighbours field after recently losing our rental home. It was a Friday in October 2019. I remember it very distinctly. I had just pulled up to my son’ primary school in Blueberry, loaded to the gunnels with all our weekend gear. Since becoming homeless, on the weekends I had taken to booking us into a beachside apartment down in Byron, to escape the relentless monotony of camping for a living.

It was so hot for October and Blueberry had no air-conditioning. I jumped out of the car and ran up the stairs, eager to collect my son and head to the beach to cool off. As I came to the parent waiting areas, he came exploding out of his classroom door, booming good-bye to his teacher and his mates. He saw me “We going to Byron?” I recall the micro actions n that moment. I open my mouth to answer. His hand comes up, pointing past me to the mountains at my back.. but before a sound escapes me in answer  he shouts “Look, Mum fire!”