General News
2 September, 2025
Scarred: A time of resilience, remembrance and reflection
WHEN the Bayindeen-Rocky Road fires tore through the Mount Cole region in February 2024, they left more than a blackened landscape, they left a tapestry of unique stories in need of being told.
In the months following the fires, the idea to preserve those stories began to emerge.
What started as a simple proposal to collate photos quickly evolved into something more ambitious, a full-length book.
On Sunday at Cave Hill Creek, the book ‘Scarred’ was officially unveiled to the fire-affected community, capturing the Bayindeen fires through the many voices of those who lived through it.
The project is the brainchild of Raglan Fire Brigade member Rod McErvale.
Rod enlisted the services of experienced author Hugh Carroll who said the scope of the project became clear after attending a barbecue in Raglan shortly after the fires.
“I honestly had no intention of writing a full-length book,” Hugh said.
“But after I was invited to Raglan and spoke with the affected families, I quickly realised there was a story here and it needed to be told.”
Hugh began the writing process by interviewing locals from Raglan, Beaufort, Warrak, Elmhurst, Amphitheatre, Ararat and the surrounding areas, eventually speaking with more than 100 people.
“Everyone had different stories, and no one had the full picture of what happened across the fireground,” he said.
“There was this universal shock at the scale of the fire.
“Even seasoned locals who had experienced fires before weren’t prepared for something of this magnitude.”
Hugh said he was struck by the backgrounds of those affected.
“I expected to find mostly farming families who’d been there for generations. But I was struck by the diversity, people from places like Paris and Mexico City, or those with family histories shaped by global conflict, all ending up in this quiet corner of Victoria,” he said.
“Their reasons for settling there were just as compelling as their experiences during the fire.
The result is a book that blends personal histories with reflections on the fire and the resilience of local communities.
Attending the launch of the publication Scarred, residents were keen to catch up, share stories and enjoy the landscape, yet recognise the blackened trees despite the green surrounds and beauty of the lake at Cave Hill Creek surrounding them.
Hugh Carroll said he was passionate about telling the “real story”, as opposed to the “official one”.
He wanted to capture the environmental impact, the government decisions which left residents saddened and frustrated, the community emotion and the breadth, depth and diversity of the many communities impacted by the fires.
He spoke quietly about how he was honoured to be given this trust and his belief that the real honour belongs to the people who told their stories.
Poignantly, representatives of both Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Michael Condon and Deputy Chief Officer, CFA West Region Brett Boatman acknowledged that their reviews post the Bayindeen fire noted areas for improvement.
Michael spoke of the need to confront many of the questions raised by the community through the publication head on and their appreciation of these being raised.
Scarred was launched formally by Member for Ripon Martha Haylett MP who spoke of the strength of communities through the past eighteen months.
“Thank you to author, Hugh Carroll, and all involved in putting it together.
It is one for the history books and will help so many on the road to recovery,” Ms Haylett said.
A copy of the publication signed by Hugh Carroll, Martha Haylett, Michael Condon and Brett Boatman was auctioned by John McGrath raising $650 from a final bid from Jeff Blake.