By Shelby Brooks
Kylie Atkinson was angry at everything after her father died fighting the Upper Beaconsfield fire during Ash Wednesday.
“I hated the CFA, I hated my Dad for abandoning me when I thought I was going to die. I was the most angry at Mother Nature for taking my father and I went outside and belted those f***ing trees because I was so angry,” she said.
Kylie was just 12 when her father Maurie Atkinson, who was a firefighter with the Panton Hill Brigade, perished along with 10 others during a sudden firestorm on Ash Wednesday.
It’s taken Kylie 40 years to be in a place of loving to allow her to come to a commemorative event.
“Today is the first time I have come to a memorial service,“ she said.
“It’s been a lot of healing to get to the point to have an open heart to come here. Trauma – it’s like grooves of a record in your brain.”
One of the more traumatic moments Kylie remembers from the aftermath of her father’s death was when a man from the CFA came to their front door to offer a compensation cheque.
“I was so angry but it has made me the amazing woman I am today,” she said.
That was when she belted the trees in her backyard in grief.
“So today, I went up to the trees and said thank you, you are the most powerful force and I love you and I am grateful to you,” Kylie said.
“It was really powerful to do that in the face of the people and volunteers here today who seem to understand this.”
Kylie understands her father joined the CFA because he was a “bloody legend”.
Kahn Franke, a Panton Hill firefighter, knew Maurie and attested to that fact.
“Maurie was an organiser, he was involved in everything,” Kahn recalled.
“So to join the CFA was natural for him. He was willing and enthusiastic. He was a great guy and always had a smile.
“He was a force to be reckoned with.”
Sunday 12 February, at the state-wide memorial service for the 40th anniversary, was the first time Kahn and Kylie had connected – but no one would have known that – their connection was undeniable.
“I literally touched base with [the Panton Hill Brigade] today and that’s how strong the link was with my Dad,” Kylie said.
“Now I am proud as punch, I am proud to be here, I’m completely honoured and grateful and it’s so nice to connect with the people who knew him and have the opportunity to have his service to the community seen by everyone.”
