Red Hot (60 page)
Although the firebug ordeal was now over, the valley was never the same. There had been too much terror, destruction and sadness. Many people decided they could no longer live there. They sold up and moved away. Those that remained endeavoured to get their lives back to normal. Some were successful with moving forwards, while others just lived from day to day, often discussing what had taken place over those four years. Many locals were still looking over their shoulders and watching for anyone suspicious in the valley. It had become a way of life.
The police were confident that Merv Spencer was the culprit and they put the case to bed. They had spent four fruitless years chasing around the valley and wanted closure. Nothing had been proven
without a doubt
just who the firebug of Hamilton Valley really was.
We have written
Red Hot
as a novel based on the true story of the Lavington Firebug crime mystery that took place back in the ‘60s. Our family were fruit growers in country NSW and we lived on a property of twenty-two acres. Over several years, the firebug destroyed out-buildings on our property and a huge shed full of expensive equipment. Many of our relatives lost many thousands of dollars in sheds, equipment and feed for their cattle. Other local farmers and fruit growers also suffered huge financial loss in shedding, farming and shearing equipment. Acres upon acres of grasslands were set alight. This would take place several times a week, month after month… year after year!
If anyone
was
brave enough to rebuild, he would burn it down again.
We have a very clear memory of the terror and heartache from those terrible years. Woken from our sleep with sirens screaming through the valley several times a week became the norm.
We would watch other fires at surrounding properties from our back veranda. We also have a vivid memory of the worst one of all, the
terrifying
fire in the hills that threatened the valley. This particular fire will forever be etched in our memories. Everyone thought the valley was lost.
We still talk about it today, finding it
incredible
that a person could wreak such hatred and destruction on the once peaceful Hamilton Valley and the lives of the locals
and
elude capture for so many years
.
In
Red Hot
, we cover several of the fires. However, in actual fact, there were over 300 fires during those four years. These facts make this true crime mystery so unique!
Someone
had
to know who he was. Someone
did
know who he was!
We still ask the question:
why
did this crazed person want to destroy the lives of the residents in the valley?