I want to tell you about Mogo

I want to tell you about Mogo.

Mogo is situated on the New South Wales south coast, about 290 kilometres from Sydney.The closest major town is Bateman's Bay. The 2016 Census indicated the population was 322.It is a heritage town once famous for gold but is now a tourist destination; calm, quaint, slow-paced and relaxed. It's full of art, artisans, bric-a-brac, crafts, second-hand books and coffee outlets.

A Mogo was a stone hatchet used by First Peoples that inspired the name of the town. Several Aboriginal groups lived in the region including the Walbanga, Murrinjari, and Bengali tribes.

In 1851, European settlement established the town of Mogo when gold was discovered. The current day tourist attraction, The Original Gold Rush Colony, tells golden tales of the past. Following that initial rush, gold mining continued in the area until 1984 but Mogo became a ghost town as work dried up and residents left in search of more steady employment. It wasn't until the 1990s that the town experienced a renaissance.

Tree-changers and retirees arrived; modern-day artists and hippies mixing with local business owners determined to revitalise Mogo and make it more than a town you pass through on your way to somewhere else. We found a car parking spot in Sydney Street and were asked to sign a petition calling on the state government to protect the forests. The town immediately felt familiar as a result. If only she knew.

Expertly brewed coffees were sourced from a cute caravan as we visited an antiques and restoration store, immediately captivated by the resident French Bulldog and his son of just nine weeks of age resting comfortably in a suitcase. All the pups sold - very quickly. But tragically, on New Year's Eve, businesses and homes at Mogo burned to the ground when the Clyde River Fire took hold. Many residents left early to seek safe refuge while others like the Mogo Wildlife Park keepers stayed to protect endangered and exotic species.

The zoo's director described his staff as "heroes" and asked for their bravery to be recognised by the Premier. They were incredibly well prepared; had a clear plan and executed it to perfection.

Like the biblical story of Noah's Ark, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, red pandas, lions, tigers, and the largest collection of primates in Australia were saved. Shops we visited to purchase books and postcards were destroyed as fire ravaged the town. The Original Gold Rush Colony is no more - destroyed. Only one fire truck was able to reach them. The firefighters are exhausted, and resources are stretched.

I love Australian towns; their characters and locals and stories and vibe. Travelling Snowy Mountain country, Mrs W and I reminisce about the 1982 classic Australian film, The Man from Snowy River based on AB "Banjo" Paterson's poem of the same title.

We think of Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) joining the wild horse muster in pursuit of "the colt from old Regret" as Jessica Harrison (Sigrid Thornton) waits for her love to return. You visit small coastal towns which feel like the set of Seachange. A chat with former Pearl Bay Mayor, Robert "Bob" Jelly while staying at Kevin Findlay's caravan park feels like it will occur just around the corner. Swimming the buoys, I hear the opening theme and raise my head to hopefully spot Diver Dan or Max Connors.

We are deeply saddened by the devastation the fires across Australia have caused. Hearing that much of the beautiful New South Wales town of Mogo was destroyed remains heartbreaking.

Once safe to do so, and if you get a chance, please visit Mogo and other quintessential Australian coastal and country towns that have been ravaged by fires and tragedy.

They need you now more than ever.