Kintsugi Heroes - Alpine Series

The 20-year fog Karl grew up in apartheid South Africa in a wealthy but emotionally distant Austrian-South African family, experiencing what he now understands as complex trauma rooted in his mother's narcissism and his father's clinical detachment. For decades he dissociated, unaware he was queer until his late twenties when he met a partner and came out to indifference from his family. He moved...

Ros Addison is the wife of Quinton Addison, who's also shared a story about the Black Saturday bushfires. And her story is quite remarkable. Sitting there with three German backpacking young ladies who were staying with them at the time, doing all the things that they learnt to do to try and save their house, which they're unsuccessful, and sitting there going to the dam wall, watching the fires l...

John McEvoy lives in the Alpine Region of Victoria where he is a school teacher and farmer. He tells the story of his experiences during and long after the catastrophic Black Saturday bushfires on February 7th 2009. Although his property did not directly impacted he tirelessly protected and supported his neighbours and the wider community. John has kept meticulous records of that time and pays tri...

In this episode of the Kintsugi Heroes Alpine Special, Ian spoke with Jill Graham who is Manager of the Myrtleford Neighbourhood Centre and also the Moyhu Neighbourhood Centre. Kintsugi Heroes are partnering with the Myrtleford Neighbourhood Centre to record the real-life stories of people who were impacted by or involved in supporting the community through the Black Summer fires as part of the Bu...

Mark Kettle shares his unique perspective in his story about the Black Summer fires in 2019-20. During the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, he was the Fire Advisor to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. He describes in detail what happened behind the scenes of the government's response to a major emergency in managing and reporting the fires, always mindful of their accountabil...

Although Darren was not directly affected by the 2009 bushfires, he was a member of the Lion’s club in Myrtleford. He describes the response based on immediate needs like water and fencing, helping people socialise and fund-raising. He also shares the problems experienced by the business community during and after the fire when COVID hit, including lack of housing for workers. And the influx of ne...

Trav Ledger's fast-paced story keeps us on the edge of our seats as he describes the progress of the 2019-20 fires in a couple of locations from the point of view of an experienced CFA volunteer from Wangaratta coming into the Alpine region to fight the catastrophic fires. One of many powerful moments he shares with us is that, although he was inspired to join the CFA by the Black Saturday fi...

Ron Janus, a retired local police officer, has been with the Country Fire Authority for thirty-two years. He is currently a member of the Buffalo River Fire Brigade and a Councillor with the Alpine Shire Council. His major ongoing concerns are firstly that mandatory evacuations are often through unsafe areas. He wants to see local safe zones set up. His other concern is that although mental health...

Rob gives us a powerful and detailed explanation of the effects on the human psyche of trauma from disasters and describes strategies for healing. He is warm and compassionate and his examples which all come from his experience over many years illustrate the complexity of the human response to tragic events and explain why it can take many years to recover. Many of our other guests have come to th...

Quentin shares a graphic and engaging account of his experiences in the 2009 Bushfires in which like many others their home was destroyed, while he was on a fire truck elsewhere. His wife and three female backpackers survived because they followed their plan to the letter. Immediately after the fires, he was frustrated and angry at hearing the often-repeated questions the fire affected areas. Spec...

This week in a special compilation episode, we talk to leaders of communities in the Alpine Region responsible for financial and wellbeing support for the residents impacted by the fires in 2019/2020. Aveline spoke to Geoff Dinning of the Rotary Club, Les Harrison of the Lion's Club and Lance Symons of the Myrtleford Bowling Club about their experiences and contributions to Alpine Communitite...

Janice’s story, a first-hand account of her experience inside the Black Summer bushfires in the Alpine region of Victoria, is gripping and terrifying at the same time. She takes us through the flames with her heroic husband and sons as they battle to save their home, that farm, their animals and support their neighbours and the wider community at the same time. She also discusses the aftermath, th...

The Black Summer fires in 2019/2020 were devastating in Victoria and around Australia. The ripples of the effects on the environment were catastrophic, but the trauma is still felt by the residents of the alpine region today. These episodes are intended as a form of recovery for listeners and guests, as key members of the alpine community share their stories and experiences of the fires. We hope t...