Melissa and her husband Paul moved to Broke nearly 30 years ago with their family and had a couple of businesses. Her husband is a teacher at St Catherine's School in Singleton.

She worked for 18 years in local businesses in the area, including Margan Wines. On their two-acre property on the outskirts of the village, they have a catering business, Motty's Farm Cuisine, and a guest house called Red Tractor Retreat.

They had an antique shop many years ago and took on the old garage where they are now to open another antique shop, but have now turned it into a cellar door. Their son Ryan runs the now iconic Magoony's coffee house in the same location.

Melissa highlights the challenges of rebuilding and finding strength in the face of the devastation caused by the floods and provides outstanding examples of neighbours and volunteers offering assistance and support.

She describes how the community bonded and thrived amidst the challenging circumstances of a natural disaster and how places like the Broke Village Hall and Magoony's Coffee House enable people to gather and share their experiences and to continue to support those who are still dealing with the aftermath of the floods.

Melissa has a positive but realistic outlook about the future of Broke, where floods are part of the history of their environment.

‘I think most likely there will be another flood…a lot of people have got their own views, but I don't have a concern for my future of living here. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. It was one in a hundred-year flood. Maybe it's another hundred years.’

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

Originally a builder from Sydney, in 2016, he and his wife decided to buy a small hobby farm and drew a circle around two hours from Sydney, and Wollombi happened to fall into that circle. They looked at a few properties, from Goulburn up to Singleton, then found the property they liked in Wollombi. ‘I said to my wife, “I want to buy my little piece of Australia.” We lived in this stupid big house in Sydney, but we knew only the two people next door to us and people across the road.’

Chris mentioned to his friends that, ‘There’s this little pub there that I love, and if it ever came up for sale, I’d buy it.’ Which he did, in 2017. Passionate about preserving local history and traditions, Chris took on the challenge of running the historical pub, embracing its rich heritage dating back to the early 1800s. His commitment to Wollombi and its residents reflects his deep connection to the area and his unwavering dedication to preserving its unique character.

Wollombi is a small village, ‘two hours from Sydney, but a long way from anywhere’. The tavern is one of the major focal points for the local community. For tourists, it’s the biggest attraction in the village.

Despite facing numerous adversities, including bushfires, floods, and Covid lockdowns, Chris remained dedicated to the tavern and the community it served. As a volunteer firefighter, he embodies the spirit of service and resilience, facing challenges with determination and positivity.

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

‘It was scary because we were very isolated. We were on an island because there was water all around us, and the road to Singleton was closed. Our neighbours were also blocked off from us. We thought if we did get stuck there, we could go up into the ceiling and onto the roof, but we didn't think the flood would get that high. We had to stay calm.’

Their house was not flooded but they had many other challenges on the property including the need to rescue their livestock, but they were able to observe what was happening around them.

‘The connection to the village really came for us once the road opened, and we were able to go down and be part of the village and of that recovery check-in point at the community centre. It was like a war zone. It was very sad to see the devastation; it was dirty and wet. The sun was shining, and it was really eerie.’

She observed that the local community is very strong, aiding in the recovery with support from various services, officials, and volunteers.

Bernadette’s level preparedness for natural disasters was tested and she realised the importance of better evacuation plans and resources.

Bernadette believes Broke village is bouncing back but also bouncing forward, and describes the significance of wellness initiatives, community involvement, and support services in fostering connectedness and resilience.

Support Bernadette's Business

Broke Estate: https://brokeestate.com.au/

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

Many of our other guests have come to the same conclusion as Rob that the most important ingredient of healing from this type of trauma is to have strong support and social networks.

Biography

Rob Gordon is a psychotherapist who has been working with Bushfire Recovery since the Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983. And he's also been a consultant to the Victorian government and the Red Cross for disasters since 1989. Rob has a private practice in psychotherapy at Box Hill in Victoria

Contact

rob@robgordon.com.au

Check out our Special Series about Recovery from the 2019/2020 Bushfires

Kintsugi Heroes: Alpine Series (YouTube)

Kintsugi Heroes: Alpine Series (Audio RSS)

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

Born in 1963 he was in the Army from 1981 to 2013. In 2016 he moved with his wife to Broke where he owns a small business.

He was the Singleton Citizen of the year for 2023 and is the president of the Broke Residents Community Association.

Mick’s story is about his personal experience of the flood as well as sharing the story of being in charge of the operations centre at the Broke Community Hall during the 2022 catastrophic flood.

“Because of my 30-odd years in the military, mainly overseas in operations, I came into the job to head up the operations centre because I knew what was involved and that when I was down there at the hall, I had to portray, okay, this is what we've got to do and get it done.”

Like many others in the area his animals are an important part of his life.

“We discussed it when they came and saw us about evacuating my wife, Min, but we couldn't go because of the animals; we've got three dogs, two cats, and chickens. I don't think our biggest dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, would have been happy getting in a tinny to cross a raging river.”

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

“I was a little bit bitter that nobody had come, simply because if Leith hadn't been here, I would not have left. I would have waited for someone to come and save me. The dog and I would have been on my bed because that's the highest point and there was literally no one coming for us.

“In the future, I want them not to forget the little people. The alerts had come through Bulga, Broke, and Singleton. For some reason, I thought that because Warkworth wasn't named, we must be OK. It's a silly attitude, but it is what it is.”

Her husband Leith has also shared their story and both together offer us a devastating picture of their what they went through and it is still not over for them.

Carina’s story is raw and very honest but, like the other Kintsugi Heroes we have spoken to, she expressed her gratitude at the many acts of generosity and kindness from members of their community.

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

She learnt how important it was for residents to start the recovery process amidst their tears, left over fears and sense of hopelessness.

The floods didn't affect her home because she lives on a hill, although the sight of the tiny creek on her road turning into a river the width of the Hunter was something she hopes to never see again.

Annie’s story from both her personal and her role in the RFS captures the commitment and compassion of the local volunteer organisations that are the bedrock of rural communities.

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

Quinton came to the region with an interest in viticulture , but his farming background saw him return to his first love, and Alpacas took the limelight.

Kirsty hailing from a Criminology background saw her work like pivot in a rural setting where she found a love for finding a way to make the farming experience and tourism accessible to everyone.

During the flood they used their resources to shelter as many families as they were able to. Having kids of their own they recognised the importance of having a space for kids to feel moments of normality and safety away from flood waters whilst their parents navigated rebuilding their lives. Along with some incredible local educators we were able to provide a space for a play group .

Kirsty and Quinton share their insights and observations of the devastating impact of the flood on Broke and the residents following some rough years of drought fire and the pandemic.

Their love for their community shines through their words as does their strong belief in the future of this special region.

Social Media

www.starlinealpacas.com.au

https://www.instagram.com/starlinealpacasfarmstayresort/

https://www.tiktok.com/@starlinealpacas

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

Their village, Warkworth, was out of the way and not part of the hub of activity in the area, but they were heavily impacted on the day of the flood.

They ended up camping by the roadside in atrocious conditions until they were separated by the need for his wife to have a safe space to live. They felt abandoned by the emergency services but were eventually supported by their neighbours and community members.

"Unfortunately, the short-term goal of this situation is to raise awareness of many of these issues and find out why people like us were forgotten. "

"We had no communication to know what other people were doing apart from people stopping by. We saw no emergency services. We had nothing; we had no information besides this water is in our house now. The only assistance we received was from some community people and a couple of stubborn mates who drove out to help out. The area was shut, locked down with floods happening all around."

"If people want to help, the help has to be appropriate. Sometimes, it's not. Some people can hinder, and some people can help.

They are both suffering ongoing trauma. Leith has spent much of the past two years in often fruitless attempts to salvage their precious possessions flooded out in their three sea containers on the property. Carina tells her story in another Kintsugi Heroes podcast.

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

In her story she shares her experiences during the floods. As secretary of the Broke Community Hall and together with a wonderful group of local women she played a pivotal role in offering help and support to the local community.

“Keeping in touch with community and helping out is something I enjoy immensely.

Ever since the flood in July 2022 there has been an enormous amount of work needing to be done and being a part of our local committee, Broke Residents Community Association, has kept a focus on getting back on ours and everyone else’s feet.”

“For the past almost 20 months everyone in our community has been focusing on getting back on track to pre flood.

The BRCA and many others have worked toward helping in the recovery and wellbeing of all of our community members. Being a part of this community has been something that I personally am very proud and humbled by.

It’s been an incredibly hard experience with several people still nowhere near over the impact of the floods. Being there for the ones still going through this is very important to me personally and providing support and wellbeing is top priority moving forward.”

Biography

I’m a mum of 2 adult children and a grandmother.

I volunteer at the Singleton Neighbourhood Centre.

I am the secretary of the Broke Community Hall.

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

His story concerns the 2022 Broke and Bulga and Wollombi flood situation. He has a unique perspective because of his long association with the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and community support.

During floods, the community reaches out for help and support from existing community organisations and the RFS played a pivotal role in the 2022 floods.

Biography

After a long period of service as a Volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service, joined the RFS as a staff member, specialising in bushfire mitigation.

Tony has a dual passion. Understanding and implementing best practice bushfire management and sharing that knowledge and experience through training and mentoring. He has a professional and personal desire to develop existing programs to a higher level and is highly qualified.

For the last few years, in private consultancy, he has been involved with training, including in cultural burning practices in the Hunter. Following the fires in 2019, he has been involved in community resilience training.

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

Circumstances led them to the Hunter and she subsequently got a job in the Broke area. They had been traveling for about five years at that stage and it was time to settle down somewhere and try something new. In 2021 she bought an old house in the centre of town.

Carly tells her story with compassion and clarity. The flood did not enter her house but came very close and she witnessed the devastation suffered by others as she struggled with Covid so had to remain in isolation.

“At one stage I dozed off and I woke up much later, to a lapping sound. For a minute I thought I was in a boat because my brain wasn't working properly. I thought, hang on, that doesn't sound good. I went to one of my back rooms to look out the window onto the street and the water was up around the house. I went out to the front patio and the water was completely up to top of the stairs of the patio.”

Like other locals she expresses her appreciation of the supportive community and what that meant to her as a newcomer to the area.

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.

There are some encounters in life that no amount of preparation planning and past experience will equip us to deal with when they hit. On the 6th of July, 2022, the rivers and streams outside of Wollombi broke and other villages in the Undervalley, New South Wales flowed over the banks, and the small towns were flooded and devastation was left in the watersway.

Over 300 locals traumatized and displaced, were left without support, power, and even aid for a time, while the worst flood in 70 years ravaged the place they called home.

While it's not uncommon in rural Australia to face adversity, the fires of 2019 went through the same area and were devastating. And yet, floods bring a special kind of awful with the mud and stink. We feel despair, we feel the loss of our precious momentos and loved things, and our sense of safety. The ongoing impact is still being managed, and so much cost and impact must also count the trauma and anxiety left by.

Yet, from this devastation, hope will find a way. And here, we also find talk of heroes, of generosity and community.(...) In this special "Konsoogi Heroes" limited podcast series, "Beyond the Deluge," we hope to share stories of the floods, both adversity and resilience from the towns and villages. We've spoken to a group of people who have varying views and experiences, and through them, we start to capture the awful realities of coping with the Deluge. And we also hear them share moments of courage, care and wonder.

I will walk with the lived experiences of these people who worked hard to overcome the dark time and are working hard to reset, restore and rebuild their lives, their homes and their community.

It also brought back memories. For me as a child, I lived in the northwest of New South Wales, a little town called Weewool, where we went through five full floods in seven years. As a kid, it was almost exciting, lots of people pitching in, yet it was also terrible and scary.

I can remember vividly walking outside my home, up to my chest in water, constantly ducking out of the way of floating furniture and rubbish, and of course, brown snakes. All that work and loss, in the end, saw my parents toss it in and end to Sydney.

In these conversations, I see how hard the folks in and around Broke are working to bring this place fully back to life.

Kintsugi, you may know, is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold and water. They feel like the repaired object with its scars becomes even more beautiful than the original.

So while events, like the hardships of the floods, can push us to breaking, hearing the stories of spirit, of courage, and restoration can help us cope, heal, and come back stronger as a person and as a community. Sharing those stories is part of that gold glue.

Please watch this fortnightly podcast, Kintsugi Heroes, Beyond the Deluge, and please be inspired as you hear the tales from Beyond the Deluge.

Thank you.