‘I Thought It Was All Over’: Geelong Superfan’s Desperate Fight to Save His ‘CatCave’ from Raging Bushfires
- Troy ‘Catman’ West’s Mount Alexander property was ravaged by the Ravenswood fire, destroying his gym and ‘CatCave’ filled with Geelong memorabilia
- The well-known Geelong fanatic was forced to flee his home and take shelter with his family in Bendigo as the flames closed in
- A heroic effort by friends who braved the danger overnight to refill a watering system in the roof saved the house from ‘catastrophic’ damage
- Victoria’s premier has declared a state of disaster as fast-moving bushfires threaten dozens of towns, with approximately 50 structures destroyed in the Ravenswood and Harcourt fire
Troy ‘Catman’ West thought he was about to lose everything. The well-known Geelong fanatic watched in horror as the Ravenswood fire tore across the hills, heading straight for his beloved Mount Alexander property.
‘For a moment, I thought it was all over,’ he told the ABC, his voice shaking with emotion. ‘The winds changed, and the flames were heading straight for my home. I had to get out, fast.’
Mr West fled to safety, taking shelter with his family in Bendigo. But his thoughts were still with his property, and the ‘CatCave’ filled with precious Geelong memorabilia that he feared was about to be reduced to ashes.
Miraculously, a watering system in the roof, refilled by friends who braved the danger overnight, saved the house from ‘catastrophic’ damage. But the rest of the property was not so lucky.
‘It’s been horrendous, I’ve been in tears,’ Mr West said, his voice cracking with grief. ‘My gym, my ‘CatCave’, family videos saved for my nieces, multiple large sheds… all gone.’
As he returned to the property to retrieve medication, Mr West was met with a scene of utter devastation. ‘I’m surrounded by smouldering trees that are falling down,’ he said, his voice filled with fear. ‘I can hear them cracking every five minutes and smashing to the ground.’
With no power, no water, and no phone signal, Mr West was forced to venture further up the mountain to get in touch with the outside world. ‘I’m in a little bit of an open area, so I’m okay, but I shouldn’t be up here,’ he said. ‘It’s the only place I can get service, but it’s not safe.’
As Victoria’s premier declares a state of disaster, and fast-moving bushfires threaten dozens of towns, Mr West’s story is just one of many tales of bravery and heartbreak emerging from the ashes.