173

173 confirmed dead.

I can't even think any more.

Nearly all from around Kinglake.

Fundraising

One of my friends, 17catherines, has come up with a fundraising skills auction to benefit the Bushfire fund. More information here.

Short version from there:

The basic idea is that a lot of people are not in a position to donate much in the way of money, but still want to do something to help fundraise. This is a place where you can put your skills or talents up for auction - offer to knit a scarf, write a story, give a language class, bake a cake, help someone with their garden or their tax - and the lucky winner of your skills will donate the amount they have offered to the Red Cross Appeal.

Please feel free to spread the idea widely. Or wildly, as I accidentally typed. Either's good.

and in the midst of crisis

I find myself getting irritated by my second unit for this semester also going to online distance education only - and putting their two days of compulsory course attendance in the other week of Dean's holidays.

*sigh*

It seems petty and trite to be complaining I know. But I had my Queensland one week holiday all planned, dammit.