Published On: May 20, 2020

Thank you always seems so little

Kangaroo Island suffered some of the worst damage in the 2019 bushfires.

Western KI Caravan Park – Kangaroo Island, SA
Davey Master Dealer – P.K Equipment Sale, VIC
Products Donated – 125S1 (shallow well ) x 2 and 165S1 x 2

Kangaroo Island suffered some of the worst damage in the 2019 bushfires. The fires on the island impacted residents, tourists and small business, including Western KI Caravan Park, a mainstay for visitors to the island, thanks to its close proximity to the Flinders Chase National Park.

On 30th December, 2019 there was a lightning strike that started the fires in the National Park. By the 3rd January, 250 people were forced to evacuate from the caravan park as the fire spread through the national park and into the caravan park. Within one hour of the evacuation, the whole caravan park was engulfed in flames. They lost three cabins, their office complex and small shop, as well as camp kitchens and their main house. All power and water infrastructure was also destroyed. All camping ground guests were moved to various other safe accommodation, that was organised by local relief centres.

“We spent most of the time looking after our guests and not looking after ourselves, which was extremely hard. The fire burned through so quick we couldn’t save their belongings, but we’re glad they (the guests) all made it out safe,” says Fiona Jago. Thinking of saving any of their belongings was an afterthought. “A lot of people now ask, but didn’t you get your stuff out, but at the time, it didn’t even enter our heads- because we were too worried about getting everyone else out”.

Thank you always seems so little, thank you so much, it’s really appreciated.” Said Fiona.

Thanks to P.K Equipment in Sale, which is where the Jago Family – the owners of Western Kangaroo Island Caravan Park are originally from, Davey were fortunate enough to offer support by donating shallow well pumps to the caravan park. They will be used to pump water to the office, the house, and the 2 camp kitchens that were destroyed in the fire. They will also move water from the dam to the holding tanks, that service the caravan park.

The Western KI Caravan Park team has planned to re-open and Davey wish Fiona and her family all the very best.