There is an AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE HUB which has information about bushfires. They have an email address for queries. At least they may be able to give you some pointers as to where to look for information.
http://www.emknowledge.gov.au/http://www.emknowledge.gov.au/research/There was a fatal bushfire in Victoria in 1985, but this short report does not have any names.
http://home.iprimus.com.au/foo7/firesum.html#214 January 1985
A major fire in Central Victoria burnt 50,800 hectares of land, including 17,600 hectares of Crown Land. Three people died and over 180 houses, 500 farms and 46,000 stock were destroyed as a result of the fire. Areas affected include Avoca, Maryborough, and Little River.
There are other fatal fires in Victoria listed on the same site, including
Ash Wednesday - 16th of February 1983, 47 deaths in Victoria. Cockatoo, where Lyn was on the roll in 1968, was badly hit. (Of course he may not have lived there by 1983.)
21 January 1997 - 3 died in the Dandenong ranges - Cockatoo in the same area.
Lots of later ones as well.
Other than that I guess archival newspapers is another avenue to try.
Judith - sorry, not much help!
