Community awareness was raised when coordinators from local Bushfire Planning groups listened to a heartfelt talk from leading Yuin indigenous cultural fire practitioner, Noel Webster.

Noel Webster's background as a frontline fire fighter plus 20 years of conservation and land management connects him directly with developing his ability to read country, employing the 60,000-year-old practice of cultural burning.

He started his talk by respectfully accrediting the acquiring of his fire skills to expert fire practitioner Vic Steffensen from The Firesticks Alliance.

Uncle Vic as he's known, is the leading cultural fire expert in Australia and known locally for his work at Bundanon, where he staged a large area cool burn in September 2018.

That particular burn was enthusiastically attended and supported by NSW rural fire services representatives.

Fortunately, Bundanon escaped any major damage in the recent devastating fires that razed many of the surrounding areas.

The mosaic system of frequent burning in small circular areas, removes the piles of leaf litter debris that acts as fuel when a big fire breaks out.

This method creates pockets of land that are particularly resistant to travelling bush fires as the fuel has been removed.

Cultural burns are described as easy-going affairs, moving no faster than a stroll where there's time to share stories.

Even the bugs have time to escape the slow-moving low flames as it moves in an outward direction from the centre.

This method contrasts greatly with the conventional practices of burning areas of land from the outside in thus boxing the wildlife in and making it impossible for them to avoid certain death in the flames.

The major emphasis in the cultural burning system is always on the preservation of the upper tree canopy which provides shelter for the wildlife.

The indigenous approach of frequent slow, cool burning, prevents the accumulation of leaf and twig debris that becomes suffocating to the grasses.

This acts as a tinderbox when the uncontrolled bush fires come through. High temperature fires on compacted levels of forest fuel, bake the earth hard like a clay pot, preventing any moisture penetration and the healthy regeneration of grasses.

Native animals depend on these grasses for their food as without it, they have to move closer to urban areas to try and sustain themselves.

"Typically, humans and nature are treated as separate identities, we need to bring it back to we are all one," Noel said.

The country dictates how and when the burning is done, never in spring, Noel explains, when nature is blossoming.

He has the ultimate belief in the essential importance of connecting community to country. He said the young fellas learning this age-old system don't wear shoes or protective clothing. Their bare feet must judge the temperatures and their bare arms can feel the strength and direction of the breeze.

Noel Webster however is only one man and he is being sought out considerably for his knowledge with landowners. Training others to read the country and care for the land in this way is a vital aspect hopefully for a plan going forward to increase resources and practitioners.

Noel Webster's message was soft but clear as he spoke passionately about the heartbreaking aftermath of the burnt landscape he drives through daily on the South Coast, knowing it will never recover in his lifetime.

Teamwork and cooperation between local land owners, the RFS, councils, National parks indigenous fire practitioners and the government is seen as fundamentally the only option by Noel.

"We need to sit down around the same table where everyone's story can be heard," he said.

Noel's talk of caring for the country and preventing future major fire damage with this long-established valuable wisdom to holistically protect the landscape, plants, animals and community, collectively was inspiring, audience member Annie McCarron said.

"Hopefully those present at the meeting can now share and promote this message amongst each other and fellow landowners to keep this conversation alive," she said.

The cultural burn vimeo links for anyone interested is available by contacting 333anniemccarron@gmail.com