Lowesdale farming family evacuated from Mallacoota by ship

Jane and Alastair Robb and their four children, Charlotte, 18, Dougal, 17, Matilda, 15, and Adelaide, 13, had been camping in the Gippsland coastal town, an annual holiday for 18 years.

They chose to stay put during last week's emergency rather than risk being caught on the sole access road when the fire front came through.

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The farming family packed up their campsite and slept the night by the water's edge ahead of the cool change expected to blow the fire back to Mallacoota.

Last Tuesday dawned quite calm but about an hour later became as black as night.

Sirens sounded as the fire approached and embers began to blow towards them.

"It was not a total barrage and so we just stomped out the embers that we could see or put little bits of water on them around us," Mrs Robb said.

Mr Robb, Dougal and another camper went back to the camping ground to hose down any embers there. The Robbs were prepared to enter the water to escape flames but this wasn't required.

"The fire front actually went around the edge of the town, which was a real blessing," Mrs Robb said.

"Everyone was very calm, I think we'd been given good information, people that stayed were prepared to stay."

Leaving Mallacoota via a naval ship late Friday afternoon proved an amazing experience, with the passengers treated well and allowed to explore all over the vessel.

"Everyone was very stoic," Mrs Robb said.

She appreciated being able to go through the fire experience alongside the Mallacoota residents.

"Those of us who are long-term holiday makers at Mallacoota, to be kind of in solidarity with the town," she said.