STAYING IN TOUCH, KEEPING INFORMED

- ALMOST 2000 HOMES DESTROYED - 7000 PEOPLE DISPLACED - 61 BUSINESSES DESTROYED

KINGLAKE COMPLEX, YEA MURRINDINDI COMPLEX, MAROONDAH YARRA COMPLEX (PREVIOUSLY ALL KINGLAKE COMPLEX) 1566 HOUSES STATE/COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

2 Police stations (Kinglake/Marysville)

1 Water treatment plant (Kinglake)

1 SES depot (Kinglake)

1 Power substation (Kinglake)

2 Communications towers (Kinglake)

3 Primary schools (Strathewen, Kinglake, Marysville)

3 Kindergartens (Kinglake,

Flowerdale, Marysville)

3 Churches (Kinglake, Marysville)

5 Shops (Kinglake)

1 Timber mill (Kinglake)

1 Football club (Kinglake)

1 Sports centre (Kinglake)

4 Business/shops (Narbethong)

43 Business/shops (Marysville)

9 Community/Government facilities

2 Infrastructure (Narbethong)

1 Business (Glenburn)

1 Business (Murrindindi)

1 Buxton Service Station

1 Glenburn Hotel

1 Kinglake Service Station

1 Kinglake takeaway shop

1 Kinglake West general store

AGRICULTURAL ASSETS/PROPERTY/PUBLIC LAND

11,500 ha Forest/lifestyle farms (Kilmore)

111,600 ha Forest/lifestyle farms (Yea/Murrindindi)

139 Sheds

12 Cows (Humevale)

22 Vehicles

60 ha Plenty Gorge Park

VECTIS - REMLAW RD

(PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS HORSHAM)

8 HOUSES

1 Golf club

5694 ha Cropping/lifestyle farms

several sheds

3 Haysheds

MAIDEN GULLY - BRACEWELL ST, (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS EAGLEHAWK)

57 HOUSES

115 Sheds

COLERAINE

1 HOUSE

12 Power poles

4 Tractors

1 Trailer

3 Haysheds

776 ha Grazing/

cropping country

6 Farms affected

REDESDALE - COLIBAN PARK RD (PREVIOUSLY REDESDALE)

12 HOUSES

10,000 ha Grazing/cropping

country

WEERITE

350 ha Grazing/

stony country

20 Farms affected

BEECHWORTH

14 HOUSES

22,500 ha grazing

BUNYIP STATE

PARK

11 HOUSES

1 factory

6 Caravans

2500 ha Intensive

agriculture/grazing

50 Sheds

1 Greenhouse farm

CHURCHILL - JEERALANG

151 HOUSES

32,860 ha Grazing/rural

FERNTREE GULLY

1 HOUSE

LYNBROOK

1 HOUSE

1 Garage/shed

ACCESS TO SOME AREAS IS LIMITED DUE TO FIRE ACTIVITY. THIS INFORMATION IS THE BEST ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE. DETAILS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL ASSESSMENTS ARE FINALISED. SOURCE: STATE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA

THE TOLL 181*

THE DEAD

Graeme Stanley Savage, 58, St Andrews Barry Johnston, 58, Humevale Tanja Tsimiklis, Kinglake Dimitrios Tsimiklis, Kinglake David Stokes, 64, Upper Plenty Robert Harrop, 83, Flowerdale Eileen Gillespie, 58, Pheasant Creek Eileen Zann, 62, Kinglake Richard Zann, 64, Kinglake their daughter, Eva Zann, 25, Kinglake Irma Winton, Strathewen Michael Winton, Strathewen Kate Ansett, Toolangi State Forest Steve Fisher, Toolangi State Forest Gareth Jones-Roberts, Yarra Glen Melanee Hermocilla, Kinglake Greg Lloyd, Kinglake Jaeson Hermocilla, Kinglake Dr Ken Rowe, Marysville George Jackson, St Andrews Isak Nilsson, Marysville his partner Kirstie Nilsson, 39, Marysville Lloyd Martin, 85, Humevale Mary Martin, Humevale Alan Jacobs, Koornalla Miros Jacobs, Koornalla Luke Jacobs, Koornalla Nathan "Charlsy" Charles, Koornalla Reg Evans, 80, St Andrews, actor his partner Angela Brunton, St Andrews Adrian Brown, Kinglake Mirrabelle Brown, Kinglake their children Eric, Matthew and Brielle Gail Leonard, Steels Creek Greg Leonard, Steels Creek Graham O'Shea, Kinglake Debbie O'Shea, 37, Kinglake and their two children Marcel Smits, St Andrews Carol Holcombe, Whittlesea David Holcombe, Whittlesea Allan O'Gorman, 55, Humevale Carolyn O'Gorman, 50, Humevale and their youngest child Stuart, 18 Rob Davey, Kinglake Natasha Davey, Kinglake their children Jorja and Alexis May McIver, 84, Strathewen Greg McIver, 59, Strathewen Judy McIver, 59, Strathewen Dr Chris Towie, Reedy Creek Donna Paulka, Strathewen Terry Paulka, Strathewen Marilyn Spooner, Strathewen son Damien Spooner, in his 30s, Strathewen Brian Naylor, 78, Kinglake West Moiree Naylor, in her late 70s, Kinglake West Marie Walsh, 73, Marysville John Wilson, mid 50s, Mudgegonga Sue Wilson, mid 50s, Mudgegonga Peter Avola, 67, Strathewen Neeve Buchanan, 9, Kinglake MacKenzie "Macca" Buchanan, 15, Kinglake, their uncle, Danny Clark, 37, Kinglake Kevin "Mick" Kane, 48, Bendigo Steve Lackas, Heathcote Junction Faye Walker, Narbethong Bill Walker, Narbethong their son Geoffrey Walker, 53, Narbethong Len Postlethwaite, 82, Marysville John Barnett, Steels Creek Jenny Barnett, Steels Creek Professor Rob Pierce, St Andrews Gary Bartlett, St Andrews Jacinta Bartlett, St Andrews their youngest daughter Errol Morgan, 70, Marysville Harley Morgan, 57, Marysville Sue Hyde, Kinglake Geoff Hyde, Kinglake Penny Chambers, 21, Kinglake Melanie Chambers, 22, Kinglake Laurel Lewis, 81, Marysville George Jackson, in his early 70s, St Andrews Raye Carter, 68, St Andrews Arthur Enver, Mt Beauty Danny Shepherd, Ocean Grove

THE MISSING

James Gormley, 40, Richmond, Melbourne and his girfriend Julie Patrick Jennings, 49, Marysville Geoff Grady, 36, Marysville Jamie Bowker, Marysville his fiancee Nicole Jefferson, Marysville Rudi Rudi, 28, student, Marysville Dean Lesmane, mid-20s, student, Marysville Elizabeth Liesfield, Marysville and her sons James, 14, and Matthew, 13 Charmian Ahern, Steels Creek Leigh Ahern, Steels Creek Kaya Mehmedoff, Strathewen Jon Le Gassick, Strathewen Haydn McMahon, Strathewen Sue Evans, Strathewen her partner Bob O'Sullivan, Strathewen Paul Roland, Kinglake Karen Roland, Kinglake and their children Caitlin, 14, and Nicola Roland, 12 Tina Wilson, 36, originally from Whakatane, North Island, New Zealand, her children: Crystal, 15, Nathan, 13, Teagan, 6 Cheri Walker, Flowerdale John "Jay" Walker, Flowerdale and John's parents, Don Walker, Flowerdale Helen Walker, Flowerdale David Sebald, Marysville Marlene Sebald, Marysville

STAYING IN TOUCH, KEEPING INFORMED

THE INJURED

The wounds of all but two of the severely burned bushfire patients at The Alfred hospital's burns unit have been successfully closed with skin grafts. Of the 20 patients who arrived at the hospital, seven remain in intensive care and nine are on the wards.

Since Saturday, the patients have had 27 trips to surgery to have dead skin removed and skin grafts performed. As of yesterday, 12 of the 16 remaining patients had completed their initial surgical treatment.

Two more had been successfully cleared of dead tissue and were covered with a mixture of skin grafts, allografts (donor skin) and artificial skin. Another patient was due to go into surgery today, after complications with infection delayed treatment.

One patient is "extremely unwell and the burns are a secondary consideration", said burns unit director Dr Heather Cleland. -- NICK MILLER

LEGAL MATTERS

Lawyers will visit relief centres this weekend to give free advice about legal issues stemming from the bushfire crisis. The topics include: dealing with insurance companies what to do if you are uninsured housing and tenancy property issues including repairs, rebuilding and selling looting and trespass dealing with electricity, phone and water companies wills money problems, paying insurance excess mortgages and other debts access to superannuation and contacting the coroner's office.

Victims can call a legal helpline on 1800 113 432, which operates between 8.45am and 5.15pm Monday to Friday.

WILLS AND DOCUMENTS

The probate office of the Victorian Supreme Court has assigned two staff members to answer questions about wills. Call Raelene Smith on 9603 9286 or Rose Gontran on 9603 9284.

State Trustees has set up a phone line to advise those who have lost loved ones or whose legal documents have been destroyed in the fires. Call 9667 6073. The service will include advice on funeral arrangements, tracing next of kin, wills and enduring powers of attorney.

FINDING LOVED ONES

Those unable to contact friends and family members in the bushfire areas should call 1800 727 077 or, from overseas, 61 3 9328 3716.

BANKS

- Bendigo and Adelaide Bank will open some branches in fire-affected areas today and tomorrow. The Traralgon branch in Franklin Street will open today between 9am and 3pm and tomorrow between 10am and 3pm. Call 5174 7466.

- The Wallan Community Bank branch in High Street will open today between 9am and 12pm and tomorrow between 2pm and 5pm. Call 5783 2422.

Bank staff will be at the Warragul, Traralgon and Yea relief and recovery centres over the weekend.

VOLUNTEERS

Victorians offering help can call the Victorian Bushfire Volunteer Line on 1300 366 356 or visit www.govolunteer.com.au

HOUSING

Victorians offering accommodation to those left homeless or displaced can call the toll-free Bushfire Accommodation Donation Line between 8am and 8pm on 1800 006 468.

Those left homeless can access emergency accommodation through Office of Housing staff at the relief centres in their area or by calling the accommodation line.

Sputnik Agency, an online firm that specialises in website design, has created an online resource to match people in urgent need of shelter with those who are able to offer emergency accommodation.

Visit www.bushfirehousing.org

TELEPHONES

Telstra is collecting spare mobile phone chargers for distribution to the emergency relief centres in the bushfire zones. Send to: Telstra Country Wide, Locked Bag 4670, Melbourne, 3001.

SUPPORT

Lifeline has encouraged those affected by the bushfires to call 13 11 14. The website lifeline.org.

au also has advice about coping with loss and grief, and helping children cope with the aftereffects of the bushfires.

Other support services, such as Parentline (13 22 89), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) and GriefLine (9596 7799), also provide counselling.

EFFECTIVE AID

Police have asked donors not to take items to bushfire relief centres, and the Australian Red Cross has said it is not requesting or accepting donations of goods. Instead, the Salvation Army's Salvos Stores will provide clothes and other goods. The Salvos need clothing, bedlinen and furniture. Call 137258.

St Vincent de Paul is taking financial donations on the national hotline 131 812. It is also accepting goods throughout Australia at its Vinnies centres.

The society has called for bushfire survivors to visit their closest Vinnies centre to receive material aid. Contact 1800 621 349 or visit vinnies.org.au

FINANCIAL RELIEF

Federal disaster recovery payments of $1000 for eligible adults and an additional $400 for children are available, as are medium-term grants of up to $22,000. Call 180 2211.

The Victorian Department of Human Services website (dhs.

vic.gov.au) has details of separate emergency grants. Also, call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.

Funeral assistance up to $5000 will be available for families.

Contact Centrelink on 180 22 11.

SUPERANNUATION

Superannuation fund members affected by bushfires can contact the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority for information about early access to their superannuation on compassionate grounds. Call 1300 13 10 60 or visit www.apra.gov.au and follow the links under superannuation.

TRANSPORT

Free public transport will be provided to those who have lost their homes and have received an emergency grant, temporary living grant or re-establishment grant from the Department of Human Services. Passes will be issued to all residents, including children. The free travel is available until October 1 on all public transport services in Victoria, including metropolitan, V/Line and bus services in regional cities.

For information on how to apply for the grants, visit dhs.vic.gov.au

ANIMAL WELFARE

- The RSPCA is offering free care to pets injured in the bushfires.

Visit rspcavic.org - Community organisation Help For Wildlife has information about assisting injured wildlife.

Visit helpforwildlife.com - The Lost Dogs' Home is providing emergency accommodation.

Visit dogshome.com - Animal Aid in Coldstream has staff in the Kinglake area to pick up and check on animals.

Contact Eddie on 9739 0300.

- Debbie from the Albury- Wodonga equestrian group says it has room for horses. Call (02) 6043 2776 or 0407 263 881.

- Free medical treatment for pets affected by bushfires is available at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in North Melbourne, call 9328 3021, and at Lort Smith Plenty Valley, call 9407 2030.

-Melbourne University's vet science department is offering help with animals. For dogs and cats, call 9731 2232. For horses, 9731 2268.

- Stock agistment is available at Leongatha saleyards, call 0409 436 255, and Pakenham saleyards, call 5940 2121.

- The Victorian Department of Primary Industries has asked animal health specialists offering their services to contact the volunteer hotline or the Go Volunteer website (see volunteer section above.)

CORPORATE SUPPORT

- Jeanswest stores will donate all profits from today's trading in its Australian and New Zealand stores to the Red Cross appeal.

- Trading Post is running a bushfire fund-raiser in which unwanted items can be sold on its website (tradingpost.com.au).

The proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross appeal. Items must be listed in the bushfire appeal category for the proceeds to be automatically donated.

HOW TO GIVE

- THE 2009 VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE APPEAL FUND THROUGH THE RED CROSS

redcross.org.au Total so far: more than $83.9 million

- THE SALVATION ARMY APPEAL FOR FAMILIES.

salvationarmy.org.au Total so far: $11.4 million

- ST VINCENT DE PAUL APPEAL vinnies.org.au

HELPING HANDS &

SAUSAGES are being sizzled, scones baked and footballs kicked to raise money as Australians scramble to find their own small way of contributing to the bushfire relief effort.

Children are emptying their piggy banks. Schools are arranging casual clothes days to raise money.

Hoteliers and landlords are offering free accommodation. Cafes and pubs are promising $1 from each coffee or beer for those in need.

Sporting clubs, large and small, are holding charity matches and tournaments, such as Eltham Rugby Union Club and the South Morang Cricket Club charity events on Saturday.

Oakleigh Go-Kart Club will hold a sausage sizzle, the Clydesdale Horse Society will raise funds at their festival and Belmont Senior Citizens Club will line-dance at a benefit for survivors.

Retailers, such as Coles and David Jones, are donating a day's profits. IGA has donated $1.5 million in vouchers and Myer has so far raised $1.3 million.

The Construction Mining Forestry Energy Union has pledged $1 million, the RACV has offered $500,000 and the Victorian Jewish community has pitched in $150,000. Holden has offered to loan bushfire victims a car for up to a year.

Tattslotto expects to raise about $3.5 million from the Saturday draw on February 21, which will go to The Alfred hospital's burns unit.

The music industry is organising benefit concerts in Melbourne at the Palais, the Corner Hotel and the Prince Bandroom in St Kilda. -- LORNA EDWARDS

- A 24-hour bushfire fund-raiser continues at Yarraville today as part of its arts festival. The event is seeking artists, sponsors and donors.

Contact Charlie Kopa on 0411 748 565. The event is being held at the IGA car park, Yarraville Village, corner of Anderson and Willis streets. For further information, visit 24hoursofpower.com.au

- On Thursday, Luna Park in Melbourne and Sydney will hold benefit evenings from 5pm to 10pm. Unlimited-rides passes will be half price, single-ride tickets will be normal price and all ride sales revenue from both parks will be donated to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

- Charity knitting project kogo is calling on volunteers to use their wool stash to knit jumpers for bushfire survivors. For information contact Ros on contact-kogo@ yahoo.com.au or 0409 438 603 (message bank).

- Ethnic community radio station 3ZZZ 92.3FM and the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria are holding a bushfire appeal until Friday.

- Valentine's Day diners can contribute through a Share the Love fund-raising appeal. Patrons can donate directly at participating restaurants or after their meal through a website, www.bushfires729.com

- A $50,000 target has been set for a fund-raising dinner on March 4 at Bistro Guillaume at Crown Casino. Tickets for the dinner, which starts at 7pm, are $500 per person - including champagne, a selection of Victorian wines and a range of the bistro's favourite dishes - with all proceeds going to the Salvation Army. A live auction will be held.

For further information or to make a booking, call 9693 3888 or visit bistroguillaume.com.au

- Corporate donations of food may be made to VicRelief Foodbank, call 9362 8300.

To list community fund-raising events, visit The Age website via blogs.theage.

com.au/yoursay/