Saturday, January 25th, we held our final dinner service for the week, choosing not to trade on the 26th in line with our stance on changing the date. After enjoying a rare Sunday off, I spent Monday planning a new menu for the week ahead, swapping out the pork loin for a duck and pineapple curry, adding a Bloody Mary and grilled halloumi tomato salad to the starters, along with a twice-baked cheese soufflé and some fresh new desserts.
That afternoon, as I deep-cleaned the kitchen, I received an emergency Watch and Act warning. I quickly gathered my valuables and left. The winds were picking up, and thick smoke filled the sky. On my way home, I called my brother for advice—he and his family had packed bags and were ready to evacuate if necessary.
When I arrived home, I went next door to check on my elderly neighbours, Richard and his wife. With only one mobile phone between them, I wanted to ensure they had enough time to prepare. Richard turned their car around, gathered important documents, and packed a bag.
By 6:50 PM, the evacuation order was issued. I immediately went back next door and found Richard calmly watering his garden. I urged him to leave and told him to meet me over the first bridge at Warracknabeal. I packed my car, secured my cat Elsa, and hit the road. My neighbours followed, along with a convoy of vehicles escaping the fires.
At one point, I had to pull over—Elsa had managed to escape her carrier. Once she was safely secured again, we continued the journey. When I arrived at the bridge, I anxiously waited for my neighbours. Minutes felt like hours, and guilt crept in—I worried I should have stayed behind to help them into the car. But soon enough, they arrived, and I breathed a sigh of relief. We checked them into a motel and then met up with other evacuees at a petrol station.
A kind stranger offered his property for us to park if we needed to, demonstrating the incredible kindness and community spirit that shone through during this crisis. Later, we found refuge at a friend’s ex-boss’s home. There were about 12 of us, and they welcomed us with open arms. They even made Elsa a sandbox to help her feel at home.
The next day, only Dimboola residents were allowed to return. Running on less than two hours of sleep, I did a radio interview with the ABC, something I do regularly for our food chats. Despite the exhaustion, I was grateful—our town was still standing, and so was the restaurant.
During the evacuation, we received reports that the golf clubhouse had burned down. Later that night, around 11:30 PM, the president of the golf club, who was also with the CFA, called me to confirm that the building had survived. Since then, I’ve visited three times under CFA supervision, as the road remains closed for safety reasons. There is still no timeline for when we’ll be allowed to begin the cleanup process.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the emergency service workers, CFA volunteers, and all those who worked tirelessly to protect our town. Their bravery, dedication, and unwavering support during such a terrifying time made all the difference. We are incredibly fortunate to have such selfless individuals who put their own lives at risk to keep our community safe. A special thank you as well to all of the wonderful people who opened their homes shared their resources, and showed incredible generosity to those of us who had to evacuate. From offering a safe place to stay, providing food and comfort, and simply being there to support one another, the community spirit has been overwhelming. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
But despite the challenges, we had exciting news! On Sunday, February 9th, we hosted our Sunday Chef’s Table at the Victoria Hotel in Dimboola, thanks to my amazing stepbrother and his incredibly supportive wife. If you’d like to book a table for a special luncheon or inquire about restaurant bookings and catering, please call or text 0428 138 856 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Thank you to everyone who has supported us through this difficult time. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us. We can’t wait to welcome you all back soon!
Stay safe and big food love always, Cat Clarke
