Little Angels - Robinson Family

This is part of a series of geocaches that have been placed to remember the little lives that were lost to tragic circumstances and lost in history.  Keeping their memories alive.

This is the story about the Robinson family that lived in Barongarook.  From the large family, sadly 4 siblings that once played together, went to school together, tragically died together.

It was a hot January afternoon in 1939, the children were inside their house with their other brothers and sister and their mother.  Their father and another brother were outside chopping firewood.  All of a sudden their father came running inside and said that everyone had to get out, as there was a fire coming.  Suddenly there was a tremendous roar, the bush that surrounded the house was completely on fire.  There were flames everywhere, escape seemed impossible.

They made a frantic dash outside, Mrs Robinson, her 3 sons, and six month old daughter all huddled together with an overcoat covering them.  Mr Robinson then threw himself over the top of them to protect them.  Although his back and arms were blistered and his shirt scorched, he did everything in his power to hold the family still while the fire burned all around them.

The other four children were terror stricken, and made a run for the road, when they were trapped by flames.

After for what seemed like hours, and the bush still red hot, Mr Robinson went out to look for the other four children.  He called and called out to them, but there was no answer. Then he found them lying side by side with hardly a mark on them, just like they were asleep.  Theresa aged 14, Mary aged 12, Vera aged 10 and Paul aged 9.

The district rallied for the family.  The local school children raised funds to help pay for the funerals.  A house was loaned to the family to live in while they rebuilt their new home.  Donations of money, clothes, food, and household items came from all over Victoria. 

The family remained in the area, although there was always the sad reminder of what happened on that fateful day.