Unsung Heroes.

It’s a commonplace that extreme situations bring out the best and the worst in people. It’s also true.

The twin disasters of Scott Morrison and environmental catastrophe wrecking Australia are no exception. The list of those going above and beyond the call of duty for the common good is long and largely anonymous: volunteer and professional firefighters, paramedics, charity volunteers, neighbours.

I believe these are doing their best. As a member of the public, I speak on my behalf only. Still, I suspect many would agree with me on this.

I am sure many people, working in close contact with them, have contributed to their performance, but two men have become the public faces of the RFS in this crisis: Shane Fitzsimmons and Rob Rogers, RFS Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, respectively. They didn’t go AWOL when they were needed; instead, they have worked hard from the get go, fronted the cameras and always spoken clearly and with courage (and Fitzsimmons did that again just this morning).

It’s important to mention these two names, because in NSW, where another State Emergency was declared by Premier Berejiklian, Commissioner Fitzsimmons has been given powers to coordinate all actions within the state. So, during this period he is at the top of the chain of command.

Or at least that’s what one would have thought until yesterday, when in another display of stupidity and irresponsibility, Morrison appointed Major General Justin Ellwood, Emergency ADF National Support Coordinator without warning or consultation, without clarifying anything. So, answer this Morrison: who’s in command? Fitzsimmons? Ellwood? Both? Neither?

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Another group of people, hidden in plain sight, who have also worked extremely hard, with extraordinary dedication during this time of crisis is the ABC -- the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

In Australia the ABC (or Aunty, as it is also called) is responsible for emergency broadcasts. To this effect, their nation-wide network of radio stations, complemented by their online and TV presences, is invaluable, irreplaceable (that’s probably why the COALition and Murdoch press psychopathic scumbags will not stop until they destroy it).

During these dark, chaotic days Australians have much to thank the professionalism of Mary Gearin, Jade Macmillan, Phil Williams, Melissa Clarke, Liv Casben, the indomitable Virginia Trioli, Hamish Macdonald, Michael Rowland, Joanna Woodward Woodburn and God only knows how many others, whose names I should mention, but I am omitting. They all have worked long hours, directly from the ground and/or traveling all over the place; away from their usual reporting duties (Williams, for instance, is a foreign correspondent; Rowland, a presenter and interviewer; Macmillan, a political journalist) sometimes while nominally on holidays (like Casben and Trioli) providing vital information not only to those affected first-hand by the events, but to the wider public, remote witness to the events through the media.

To fill unexpected TV presenter/interviewer slots, created by their daily, almost 24 hour coverage, ABC mobilised its team of talented news readers, presenters, and hosts: from Josh Szep and Johanna Nicholson and Paul Kennedy in the early morning, through Joe O’Brien, Jeremy Fernandez, Juanita Phillips, Mariam Saab, Celina Edmonds, Kathryn Robinson, Gemma Veness and many others.

And those are just the names that come to mind, because one sees them on TV every day. There are many more, anonymous all, behind the cameras, without whose work that invaluable service would not have been possible. Better known or not, all of them, workers.

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By comparison, after months of shirking personal responsibility in the management of the crisis to the point of sneaking out of the country to go on holidays, Scott Morrison could not wait to have this ridiculous, infantile, self-promotion ad appear in his Twitter account:

(Incidentally, it has been alleged that

“The social media post carried a link to the Liberal Party website, which displayed a big DONATE button at the top.

“Donate to the Liberal Party, that is, not any of the worthy bushfire relief efforts. A grab for cash as well as political capital. Classy stuff. At least this appeal for donations was quickly taken down.”

As I cannot confirm or deny that, I can only refer readers to the source of the allegation.)

The thing is not just that Morrison is a piece of shit, is that he is inept. Either way, we lose.

(You guys are legends.)

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I will feature at the end of these posts links with suggestions for donations.

The NSW Rural Fire Service set up an  official webpage for donations to the families of fallen volunteer firefighters: Geoffrey Keaton, Andrew O’Dwyer, and now Samuel McPaul. Donations are tax deductible for Australian residents.

Naaman Zhou compiled donation recommendations directly from NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australian firefighting services.

The ABC’s Edwina Seselja and Peta Fuller also have a list of recognised frontline services readers could consider for donation. Their colleague Kerrin Thomas also has some suggestions, particularly for those in the mid-north coast of NSW.