Grief and anger as Kinglake locals try to go home
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About 1,000 residents are trying to return to the town of Kinglake following the bushfires. (AFP: Rick Rycroft/Pool)
Roads in and out of the Victorian town of Kinglake are partially opened for the first time since the fires, however residents' grief has turned to anger as they are unable to enter the town.
At a meeting in the town this afternoon locals left in Kinglake expressed their anger at not being able to return home if they decide to leave.
For the time being, roads are only open for the ingress of emergency services and supplies. Residents who left the town are not being allowed back in.
Authorities say there are about 1,000 people waiting at the bottom of the mountain to return to what is left of the town - many of them aware they have no homes to go back to.
However, emergency services say there is not enough food or shelter and the threat of travelling up and down the road is still dire, with many trees still falling.
Police are also still working to recover bodies on the side of the road leading in and out of the town.
Currently, conveys leaving the town are escorted by CFA or police.
ABC reporter Michael Vincent, who is in Kinglake, says locals in the town are trying to organise as quickly as they can.
"It is now 72 hours. They are getting food, they are getting fuel," he said.
"There are more generators coming up here so people can power their homes.
"Every basic need is going to be supplied to them including people who want to stay up here who have lost their homes.
"There is shelter available, limited, but there is some shelter available."
Returning to normal
Part of the organising process includes trying to regain a sense of normalcy for those remaining in Kinglake.
That includes attending daily meetings in the town at midday and at 4:00pm AEDT.
A playgroup has also been established at the local school for Kinglake's children in an effort to remove them from the devastation of the clean up process.
About 20 local children attended today's playgroup and local teacher Ros Flemming says she is pleased to see so many.
"A lot [of children] have gone and I didn't know how many would come," she said.
"There are some I am very pleased to see that I haven't seen yet so I am glad to know they are safe and well. That is really good."
Ms Flemming says for now, the local kids are happy just to have a play.
"The kids are enjoying it. The kids have got somewhere to play. They think it is wonderful," she said.
"Instead of school they have got two hours of play so they are having a really good time."
Ms Flemming says it has also been important for the parents to be able to come and talk to other people at the playgroup.
Dealing with grief
She says chaplains visited today for both parents and children to talk to.
"The parents are meeting and chatting and that is great," she said.
"People have been up helping and working too which is great so we will try and keep it going.
"We had some chaplains here today and we hope later in the week to get some more at this meeting too.
"They are happy to talk to anyone or organise sessions back at the CFA stations."
For many of the children who have lost their toys, their homes and even their friends, Ms Flemming says the playgroup is a welcome distraction.
"I think they have got their play equipment and things, facilities here for a lot of things they haven't got at home so it is important to them."
But with the surrounds still charred and smoking and helicopters flying overhead, there are constant reminders for the children of Kinglake.
"Kids adapt and accept and I think they distract easily and come back to it," Ms Flemming said.
"I think we [adults] don't so much.
"I am going to have to mention to the CFA about these trees over here when I get back to the shed but luckily the school is relatively safe. It is a safe haven here.
"It has been checked by the CFA a lot and they know. As long as they know we are here, they will come and help us if the fires flare up again."
Based on a report by Michael Vincent for The World Today on February 10.
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