Queen Elizabeth sends a heartfelt message to devastated Australians affected by deadly bushfires as she praises the nation’s ‘richness of spirit’
- Queen says she is ‘deeply saddened’ by the tragic loss of life and property
- ‘Richness of spirit’ has drawn people together to support those in need
- Scores of blazes killed two people, destroyed 64 homes and 150 outbuildings
- Hundreds of thousands of hectares of drought-parched land burnt by fires
Queen Elizabeth has sent a heartfelt message of concern for those affected by Australia’s deadly bushfires, saying they are in her thoughts and prayers.
Blazes in northern New South Wales last week killed two people and destroyed 64 homes and 150 buildings, while those in southeast Queensland destroyed one home.
The 93-year-old monarch has sent a letter of condolence to NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey.
Queen Elizabeth II said she was ‘deeply saddened’ by the deadly bushfires that killed two people and destroyed 64 homes across northern NSW and southeast Queensland last week
Scores of bushfires raged through drought-affected land destroying more than 400,000 hectares in NSW since July
‘Prince Philip and I have been deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of life and property caused by bushfires affecting communities and businesses across northern New South Wales and South East Queensland,’ the Queen wrote.
‘I am heartened that once again the richness of spirit that defines Australians has drawn people together to support those in need.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims.’
The letter, signed ‘Elizabeth R’ was also published by Australia’s Governor-General David Hurley on Facebook on Thursday.
A total fire ban has been declared over large swathes of northern NSW on Thursday, with the forecast for hot and windy weather again putting authorities on red alert.
Scores of fires, some of which have been burning for more than a month, ripped through northern NSW and southeast Queensland last week, devastating small and tightly-knit rural communities.
An elderly couple were found dead in the smouldering rubble of their Coongbar home in northern NSW on October 10.
A home burnt down in Laidley, in southeast Queensland on October 9
The Queen’s message published by Governor-General of Australia David Hurley on Thursday
The pair were last seen at their home on Deadman Creek Road before the fire, caused by a lighting strike, reduced it to rubble on Tuesday.
Police said their house had been destroyed by the Long Gully Road bushfire which was caused by a lightning strike – a different fire to the Busbys Flat blaze, which police are treating as suspicious, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Severe drought has intensified the dry conditions, causing large areas of land to be vulnerable to any spark.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said on October 10 that more than 400,000 hectares of drought-affected land had been destroyed by fire in NSW alone since July.
‘It’s an extraordinary area that’s been burnt.’
The town of Rappville in northern NSW was hit hard by the fires, and resident Robert Collier said he expected people to move away as a result.
‘I think you won’t see as many kids at the school now,’ he told ABC news.
Mr Collier, who escaped with his partner and their children, said his family saw their home ablaze on the news.