In 1944, Victoria had a terrible bushfire season. While five years earlier, the 1939 bushfires were more deadly and burnt 10% of the land in Victoria. A Royal Commission had occurred. The same Justice was sent to Yallourn to see how the Commission had protected the assets and town. Even though other areas were worse hit and the higher number of lives lost. This was already covered in the 1939 Royal Commission which was stalled.
The 1944 Royal Commission is a fascinating independent look at the township of Yallourn before living memory. It is quite a long episode for patrons only. 1944 Royal Commission was instrumental in creating the CFA as it is known today bringing together several different independent fire fighting organisations.
James Waghorne, in his book 'Tempering the Wind: Brian Fitzpatrick and the Australian Council of Civil Liberties under the Curtin Government', in Macintyre, Stuart and Fitzpatrick, Sheila (eds), Against the Grain: Brian Fitzpatrick and Manning Clark in Australian History and Politics, Melbourne University Publishing, Carlton, Victoria, 2007, pp. 97-118. Details
Mollie Bayne, (ed.), Australian Women at War, Research Group of the Left Book Club of Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, 1943.
1944 'NEW BUSH FIRES SWEEP VIC.', The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), 15 February, p. 1. , viewed 24 Jun 2020,
1944 'THE DAMAGE AT YALLOURN', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 16 February, p. 3. , viewed 24 Jun 2020,
Johnston, E C n.d., SYDNEY, NSW. 1944-03-23. ARMY NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ATTENDING A COURSE OF BUSHFIRE FIGHTING CONDUCTED BY OFFICERS OF THE NSW FIRE BRIGADE, USING LEATHER BEATERS TO BEAT OUT A GRASS FIRE, DURING