Summary

Digital photograph of new vegetation taken by Robin McDonald at her beef property at Rosewhite, in Happy Valley, north east Victoria in February-July 2009.

Robin and her husband David, have been farming on this property since 1963, and were directly affected by the 2009 February bushfires which started in the early hours of Sunday 8th February 2009.

This photograph is part of the Victorian Bushfires Collection and is supported by an oral and video interview undertaken with Robin and David McDonald.

Description of Content

A good strike of Rye Grass is coming up under the burnt trees on David Mc Donald's selection, several months after the fires. 'We were concerned about erosion on the steep parts of the hill and had the area seeded by aeroplane, hoping to hold the soil in place in the event of heavy rains. The Rye Grass grew well, and this plan prevented topsoil washing off the hill.' - Robin McDonald [Happy Valley resident, 19 Audust 2010].

Physical Description

Colour digital photograph

Significance

This collection of photographs contributes to understanding the experience of primary producers during the 2009 February bushfires. They particularly document the fires in north east Victoria, which were known as the Beechworth fires. These fires were responsible for the destruction of the greatest amount of public and private land in Victoria during the 2009 bushfires, and raise many issues and themes specific to the geographic nature of this area.

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