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.
And at a launch held at the Cave Hill Creek camping venue in Raglan on Sunday 24 August, '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.
Rod, who convened the Book Group tasked with bringing the project to life, said a $10,000 grant from the Bendigo Bank's Bushfire Recovery Fund helped turn the idea into reality.
"We formed the group and applied for the grant, when we were successful, we thought 'ok, we can really make something special here'. Fortunately, Hugh had also agreed to come on board free of charge." Rod said.
Rod praised Hugh's storytelling approach.
"It reads like a novel, I was surprised by how candidly people opened up," he said.
"It wasn't like we asked them to bare their souls, but once the interviews started, it became clear people needed that chance to speak. It was like a healing process.
"The way the book weaves different people's stories together is brilliant. To have something like this to pass down through the generations in the area is just fantastic."
'Scarred' opens with one family's personal account, then steps back to trace how the fires unfolded across multiple communities.
"It's about what people went through, with the fire in the background. Hugh's done such a good job," Rod said.
CFA was represented at the book launch by Deputy Chief Officer West Region Brett Boatman, who acknowledged the importance of the project.
"Capturing local knowledge and community voices ensures that the lived experience of the fire is never forgotten," Brett said.
Proceeds from book sales will support the restoration of bushland campsites and community spaces in the Mount Cole area.
