11 September 2019

Keeping your photos and memories safe from fire

| Ian Campbell
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Inside the cabin with NSW Fire and Rescue Jindabyne, August 16. Photo: Fire and Rescue NSW Station 338 Jindabyne Facebook.

Inside the cabin with NSW Fire and Rescue Jindabyne, August 16 at Yankees Gap. Photo: Fire and Rescue NSW Station 338 Jindabyne Facebook.

The possible impact of bushfire on our home and community has become an almost routine contemplation.

The long-running Yankees Gap Fire burning at the back of Bemboka, Numbugga, Coopers Gully, and Brogo has so far claimed four homes, its ongoing presence mixed with one bad day puts more at risk.

This five-week-old fire comes six months after the flames of the Reedy Swamp, Vimy Ridge, and Tathra Bushfire destroyed 65 homes.

Fire is real and alive within the Bega Valley community.

In that time we have all asked ourselves, “What if?”

Some have even had the added experience of needing to evacuate at short notice and decide what items stay behind to be potentially incinerated and what comes with you to relative safety.

Overwhelmingly photos are at the top of people’s hurried packing list.

“Unfortunately recent events have highlighted how vulnerable our photos and precious memories are,” says Tathra based tech expert, Andy Willis of Working From Anywhere.

“Our photos and memories, whether they be stored in physical photo albums or digitally stored on laptops and mobile devices are precious and irreplaceable.”

With the experience of his community fresh in his mind, Andy is presenting a number of free 30 to 60-minute workshops to raise awareness of the options available when it comes to securing photos and memories.

The sessions in Eden, Bega, and Tathra will look at:

• Items stored on your mobile device/s
• Items stored on laptops or computers
• Items stored on external hard drives
• The photos you take every day on your mobile phone
• Your physical photos

“And I will also explain why the photos you may have stored on external or portable drives are not secure,” Andy says.

Securing your Photos and Memories Information Sessions:

  • Tuesday, September 25 – 5:30 pm, Sapphire Coast Discovery Centre, Eden
  • Wednesday, October 3 – 12:30 pm, Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre
  • Thursday, October 11 – 6:00 pm, Tathra Hotel

“These sessions are for anyone that has photos and memories they don’t ever want to lose. They are free events but you do need to register to attend,” Andy says.

There is a $10 cover charge for anyone that comes on the day without prior registration via EventBrite.

“And if you would like me to present a session to your small group or community please get in touch, [email protected] or 0408 923 599.”

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