Black Summer 12 months on: stories from those who survived the fire

Wednesday, 1 January — Cobargo

It looks like 20 bulldozers have lined up and gouged a chaotic path through the centre of the historic town of Cobargo on the New South Wales South Coast.

There is a clear beginning and end to the destruction. And in between, nothing but twisted roofing iron and the burnt fragments of people’s businesses. The heart of the town is gone.

Cobargo residents Marylin Mills and Mick Thompson had moved into their Cobargo haven just before Christmas. It was a new start for both of them.

A beautiful house on normally lush acreage, it was going to be a place for Marylin’s five horses and three dogs to thrive, and had…