WHEN a big ball of flames exploded in the paddock around him, Tim Brown knew it was time to get the hell out of there.

Tim, assistant manager of Alpine Angus at Rosewhite, Myrtleford, was helping put out fires for other farmers at Mudgegonga.

He had left wife Melissa to defend the Angus stud while he acted as lieutenant for the Rosewhite brigade.


Tim's boss, Willie Milne, had been notified of the fire, but was caught on the stud's second property at Porepunkah by road blocks.

"I got a phone call to come home and (once there) started up the irrigation pump to protect the house and sheds," Tim said.

"I was putting out spot fires with the ute and by the time I had refilled the 1000-litre tank, the fire was everywhere.

"The noise of the fire was like a 747 going off in your ear."

The 400ha property carries up to 100 stud cows, 36 mature bulls and 35 yearling bulls - all were saved.

Willie Milne estimates he lost 25 per cent of pasture, together with fencing, 500 bales of silage and hay, and the stud's large sale barn.

But he has vowed to push ahead with the planned bull sale on-farm on March 18.

He said stud owner, Melbourne barrister Jim Delany, will donate the proceeds from the sale of a bull to the bushfire appeal.

"The fact the fire came at night saved us as the spot fires could be seen and the cattle were able to step around the fire," Mr Milne said.