A symbol of hope in a week filled with so much loss of life and devastation in one of Australia's southern States - Victoria.

In this video, SAM - the world's most famous koala - met the man who was her saviour, Country Fire Authority volunteer David Tree.

The Herald Sun reported, "Mr Tree was close to tears when he was reunited with his new furry friend at the Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson, where Sam is recovering from third degree burns to her paws.

The pair became accidental faces of the devastating bushfires when Mr Tree gave an exhausted Sam a drink from his water bottle in the middle of burnt-out bush in Mirboo North."

Sam the koala video goes global on TV across the world
http://tinyurl.com/dbtyr3

It's been reported that over one million of our wild animals may have perished in the worst fires in Australia's history. It will take many many years to recover what we once had and what we probably took too much for granted. WE need our animals in the wild - the environment needs the animals in the wild - without one we don't have the other.

Donations:

http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/cms/index.php

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I received this poem in an e-mail so I'm hoping the author won't mind me sharing it here. If so, please let me know an I'll remove it. It tells it like it is and is so sad.

(¨`·.·´¨) Always
`·.¸(¨`·.·´¨) Have
(¨`·.·´¨)¸.·´ Faith
`·.¸.·´ & Hope.

Black is all I see.

Where green and gold once cloaked the land
Where eucalypt and pine did stand
Where man did live and lay his hand
Now black is all I see.

Where horses grazed and cattle drank
Where grasses lined the river bank
Where stood a house and water tank
Now black is all I see.

There was a town with store and hall
Which proudly stood neath ridges tall
Now nothing moves or lives at all
And black is all I see.

There stood a home and there another
Where lived a daughter, father , mother
A sister, cousin, niece or brother
Now black is all I see.

Our nation grieves and holds them tight
Throughout the darkness of the night
Till daybreak brings an ashy light
And black is all I see.

"Poor fella, my country"
N.D. 11 FEB 2009