'That's what you do': Streatham man fights fire next door as his home burns

Leigh Graham watched from the paddock next door as his Streatham home, where he, his family, and his wife Pauline spent 14 years creating fond memories, went up in flames.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

or signup to continue reading

Holiday Offer

All articles from our website & app

The digital version of Today's Paper

Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia

All other in your area

Hours earlier, their Friday had started like any other, as they got ready for work on the morning of January 9.

But by noon, they were packing their cars with essentials and the few precious items they could grab before a fire took everything in the worst conditions seen in Victoria since the 2019-20 Black Summer fires.

Everything, but the family's beloved cricket stumps, has been reduced to ash and rubble.

Pauline and Leigh Graham standing in front of the remains of their home. Picture by Nick Powell

'It's gone up.'

Leigh, who is a volunteer with the Country Fire Authority (CFA), watched the family home go up in flames as he battled the blaze next door.

He said he got a phone call from a friend, who had picked up a private fire tanker, and together they went around to neighbouring properties to battle the flames and the 70kmh winds.

"I jumped on the back ... in the direct path of the fire when it went past our home," he told The Courier.

"We went into the neighbour's paddock, and spent probably half to three-quarters of an hour there, but we couldn't get close to the fire. We tried twice, and as soon as we got within 20 metres, the flames went up about 15 to 20 feet and basically burned over the top of the fire truck."

Devastation left behind after Streatham-Skipton bushfire. Pictures by Nick Powell

Pauline - and her 99-year-old uncle - headed to safety in Ballarat, separating her from her husband for the next 24 hours.

"I just had to pray and hope he was okay," she said.

"He rang me from the driveway. And I asked, 'How are you? How's the house?' and he said, 'It's gone up. We're off to fight another fire'."

"I looked up and smoke was just billowing out of the roof. We were too late. Can't do anything about it," Leigh recalled.

The Graham's home is one of 228 houses destroyed across the state by the bushfires in recent days.

Wedding album, birth certificates

Pauline and Leigh Graham only had 15 minutes to grab 14 years worth of memories when the grass fire broke out.

Since the fire, they said they have been staying with friends and family, while still searching for any memories in the ruins.

"We've picked through most of it, but it's pretty tough to see," Pauline said.

"We raised three boys here. [We] just had a hell of a lot of fun."

As long-term renters, Pauline and Leigh's home contents weren't insured.

They said they didn't have much of "monetary value" inside, but the priceless treasures of the past decade were now lost.

"I just cried all night," Pauline said.

"I went through in my head, from room to room, cupboard by cupboard of what I didn't get. I didn't get our birth certificates. The wedding album is gone. Photos and memories ... of 30 years. Gone.

"We don't have a lot of money. We've been battlers all our lives.

"We finally got some savings that we've worked hard to get, but then you get this."

Pauline and Leigh Graham only had 15 minutes to grab 14 years worth of memories. Picture by Nick Powell

Amid the frantic rush to leave, the couple made a choice.

"I got into trouble, because the last thing I threw in the car was my cricket gear," Leigh said.

"It was a deliberate decision to cling onto a sense normality and community."

"I think we grabbed those so we could continue doing that [being with community], instead of trying to replace it with somebody else's stuff," Pauline said.

Their local heartbeat, the Carranballac Cricket Club, was also lost to the fire.

Two days after the fire, Leigh was back there with the community, playing in his over-60s cricket team that he captains.

Community spirit

To the Grahams, there's an unspoken understanding that neighbours are there to help.

"We're not all friends ... but if a fire starts, you just think, 'that could be me next time'. That's what you do."

"I don't know how many offers of help through texts, emails, phone calls, people just touching base, and it is the most overwhelming support that we've had from everywhere.

"We're lucky in that regard."

Despite the trauma they have suffered, they want others to learn from their experience.

"Be prepared. Get your papers - your insurance papers, your utilities, your birth and wedding certificates - and have a special place for them," Pauline warned.

"Just get out and be safe. And accept when you're offered help. Learn to say yes."

Daily

Your morning news

Today's top stories curated by our news team.

Weekdays

The lunch break

Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation.

Weekdays

The evening wrap

Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening.

Weekly

Subscriber Only

Note from the Editor

Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters.

Weekly

What's On

Going out or staying in? Find out what's on.

Weekly

Subscriber Only

FootyHQ

Love footy? We've got all the action covered.

Twice weekly

The Senior

Stay in the know on news that matters to you with twice weekly newsletters from The Senior.

Weekly

Sport

The latest news, results & expert analysis.

Weekly

Explore Travel

Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe.

Weekdays

The Echidna

Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more.

Twice weekly

The Informer

Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday.

Twice weekly

Voice of Real Australia

Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over.

Weekly

Motoring

Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarGuide, ACM's exclusive motoring partner.

As it happens

Breaking news alert

Be the first to know when news breaks.

Daily

Today's Paper Alert

Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am!

Daily

Subscriber Only

Your favourite puzzles

Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!

Advertisement

Ad

Advertisement

Ad