AS bushfires continue to rage on and temperatures soar across the state, one South Coast trainer is prepared in case of disaster.
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Some of Australia's best horse racing talent - including champion Winx - have had spells at Cheryl Roberts' Boynton Park property in Berry. It's a responsibility she doesn't take lightly.
Roberts said it was crucial to always be ready for anything after a "catastrophic" fire danger was issued in NSW on Tuesday.
"Living in Australia, bushfire is a concern. Naturally I have a bushfire plan in place," she said.
"It's something that we constantly monitor. I have the bushfire safety app [Fires Near Me] on my phone so I'm always looking at that.
"We're lucky in that a fair portion of our land is cleared. But we do have about 20 acres of bushland, so I have procedures in place where we will move horses away from the tree section."
Living in Australia, bushfire is a concern. Naturally I have a bushfire plan in place.
- Cheryl Roberts
Tuncurry trainer Terry Evans shared a story on social media about his own brush with bushfire this week.
Evans evacuated the property on Friday while his horses in work were safe at nearby stables. His other horses, including retired racehorses, were left at the property, but Evans found them safe and well on Saturday.
Evans wrote on Facebook that he had been "flat out" since the fires started and he "stayed at home as long as I could but in the end it was far too dangerous".
"[My wife] Julie and our puppies got out and we are with friends at the Diamond Beach resort... we will see what today brings and will try to keep everyone posted," he wrote.
"Julie and I are overwhelmed with your support. All horses at the racecourse are fine."
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Roberts can recall being on high alert four years ago when a fire broke out less than 50 kilometres from her Berry property.
"It was very scary," she said.
"We obviously have our own horse truck ready, but the problem was: where do you have your horses to?
"If a bushfire comes through Berry, it could take out the whole town itself as it did in Victoria.
"But we are prepared. We have good water [supply] and our property is well manicured."