18 January 2003 firestorm - Mount Stromlo stories

Jason Griesbach

When the fires hit I was living in Sydney.

For the few months preceding the fires I was in contact with MSO staff members regarding potential employment at Stromlo. In fact, just the week before the fires I was told that an interview would be set up shortly. When I turned on the TV and saw video footage of the destroyed Observatory, I was shocked and remember thinking to myself, "Well, that job opportunity just went up in smoke!"

I was in for a second shock a couple months later when I was again contacted by MSO. Not only was everyone still alive and employed, but they were still wanting to interview me for the same position! Naturally, when they offered the job, I accepted. I guess the Australian people and the Australian native trees have at least one thing in common. The fires don't stop them – they instead release new growth so they can keep going.