Hi Keith
What an unpleasant surprise. Funny it's something I always seem to think about when I go outside at night in my thongs. You are a lucky man, an 18 inch snake bite is just as bad as the full grown. Just one of the joys we have living in the country.
We had 42.1 C yesterday here in SA and 43C predicted for today, Wednesday and Thursday but a lovely cool 40C on Friday. So stay cool old chap as we are sending it all down to you in Vic.
Cheers
Tony