On the one hand they were able to meet and shake the hands of some of the volunteer fire fighters who risked their lives to minimise the devastation caused by the blazes at two Wollondilly villages, Balmoral and Buxton.
One of the buildings these heroes saved was Buxton Public School.
But when Jason Clare, a federal MP, and Greg Warren, the member for Campbelltown, were taken to the school earlier this week, they saw a different picture.
What they were devastated to see was the work of vandals who had trashed the school after the fires.
The two senior Labor politicians saw windows smashed and computers destroyed (pictured above).
“It’s hard to believe after the inferno that hit this town that people would come and bust into this school and break windows,” Mr Clare said.
“What sort of a mongrel does that?
“This school was saved by those who risked their lives and you can see holes in the shade cloth which shows just how close the fire came.’’
Mr Warren echoed his sentiments: “I am absolutely disgusted that some cowards decided to cause such destruction at Buxton Public School just days after firefighters risked their own welfare to protect the school.
“I hope those vandals feel the full weight of the law,” he said.
Earlier Mr Clare and Mr Warren visited the RFS control centre in Picton and the Balmoral Village Hall – a hub for community donations run by local volunteers – and spoke to volunteers regarding the bushfires.
“I may be the Member for Campbelltown, however the Macarthur region is a tight-knit community and residents in Wollondilly were never far from my thoughts during the bushfire crisis,” Mr Warren said afterwards.
“Whether you are from Campbelltown, Camden or Wollondilly, we are all proud residents of the Macarthur region.
“It is heartbreaking that these brutal fires resulted in the loss of life and property.’’
