A photograph of the devastation in the Noojee township after the Black Friday bushfires on January 13, 1939.
The majestic mountain ash which circle the hills around Noojee are bittersweet for the township. They provide the seasonal beauty, but also the constant threat of summer bushfires.
On at least two occasions the town and nearby district areas, have been razed by horrific fires.
This image captured the aftermath of Black Friday, occurring just 13 years after Black Sunday on February 14, 1926.
The Gazette's front page headline of January 17 read in capitals - "DISASTROUS FOREST FIRES".
The subheading was haunting - "8 DEAD AT SAXON'S MILL", followed by "NOOJEE WIPED OUT".
In one of our region's biggest natural disasters, the front page described Black Friday fires that ravaged death and destruction across Victoria.
Scorching northerly winds whipped into fury a fire "far more terrifying and extensive than the fire which swept through the settlement in the year 1926".
The inferno hit at 1pm and, within a few minutes, the township was ablaze.
In less than an hour, Noojee was razed to the ground as two fire fronts combined to create a massive fireball.
"A feature was the remarkable quickness in which the township of Noojee was encircled by flame," the Gazette report said. "In 15 minutes, the whole township was encircled, and houses were burning."
Men, women and children rushed to the Latrobe River, saving at least 100 lives.
The report says the fire raced on to Icy Creek and then Fumina.
In Icy Creek, 40 people were driven from their homes to shelter in the valley. The small settlement of Fumina, comprising five houses, was also completely gutted.
In Noojee, only the hotel and railway residence remained standing.
"Remarkable as it seems, Wayman's butcher shop withstood the fire on Friday but was destroyed during the night," the report said.
Several bridges on the railway line between Noojee and Neerim were burnt, and a gang was put on to carry out repairs.
"After the fire had raced through the town, the unfortunate people came from their haven of treat and surveyed the damage done by the fire fiend.
"Pathetic sights were witnessed as women folk comforted each other amidst a harrowing scene.
"Many of these brave women, heroines all, were in a state of collapse and suffered severe shock and smoke blindness.
"The men of the town, perhaps a braver band had never trod the roads of Noojee, were still rendering whatever assistance was required."
The Gazette reported on the courage of postmistress Mrs Sanderson (Gladys Elizabeth) who stayed at the post office to get messages out. She was the only person who could operate the telephone switchboard.
She stayed until flames were licking at the walls, before escaping to the nearby Latrobe River.
She advised the postmaster in Warragul that she was locking the office valuables in the safe and tying the keys to her wrist.
Her courage was later recognised with an Order of the British Empire award.
Warragul itself quickly swung into action, taking in "refugees" and organising appeals and donations.
In the weeks that followed, Warragul was at the centre of caring for displaced people and raising much needed funds to rebuild the Noojee township.
Photograph courtesy of the Noojee and District Historical Society and information courtesy of the Gazette.
