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Intro:

Welcome to the Friday Meat Tray!

This is a collection where the kind authors who volunteered to write for Mia's Meat Raffle can add their fics.

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the what now?

 

In late 2019 and early 2020, Australia was hit by devastating bushfires. The cost is unimaginable, not just in money and loss of property, but in human and animal lives.

34 people died, many of them firefighters, most of those volunteers.

More than 3,500 houses were destroyed, not to mention all the other buildings. That number could have been a whole lot worse if it weren't for the emergency services - firefighters, medical workers, charities, even the armed forces - who worked themselves into the ground to save as much as they could.

186,000 square kilometres of land was burnt across all states and territories, including more than 20% of Australian forests. That's about 72,000 square miles. Try to picture that. That's an area larger than the entire state of Florida. It's bigger than Austria and Hungary put together.

A billion animals are estimated to be dead. A BILLION. That's not just a lot. It's horrific. Several species are now believed to be extinct. Species that were doing OK are now endangered, including that Australian icon, the koala.

For weeks, thick smoke blanketed several of Australia's cities (including mine), bringing pollution indexes to staggering and hazardous levels. For weeks - over the summer 'holiday' period, no less - it was impossible to see through the smoke haze, if you dared venture outside. P2 masks and air purifiers sold out across the country. Non-smokers developed smokers' coughs. Eyes stung. Clothing smelled. Hair was full of grit and grime. In my city on New Year's Day, the air quality was the world's worst, measuring about 23 times the level of pollution rated 'hazardous'.

Stepping outside for a breath of fresh air is something I no longer take for granted.

The ongoing cost to the native wildlife, and to Australians' health, can only be guessed at. I worry at the long term impact on my asthmatic daughter. And that's just physical concerns. Mental health is a huge concern across the country right now.

Businesses have gone broke, especially in the service industries, and people are suffering. I go into my office and people are tired and stressed and sad. My elder daughter, an anxious soul, had nightmares for weeks (and was just starting to come good when COVID19 hit the world news).

I wanted to do something, even something small, aside from the small amount of money I was able to give, so I ran a raffle to raise money for two charities, the Australian Red Cross to help people, and Wildlife Rescue to help the animals.

 

We raised $815 all up.

 

Six writers volunteered their services. Six lucky people's names were drawn. Six fanfics are coming!

I'm so proud of everyone who donated their time, their money, their talent and their support by helping me spread the word. Thank you all.

 

Thank you.