Black Summer Bushfires Women’s Recovery Stories: Julie’s Journey to a Safer Garden

The 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires had a devastating impact on many communities. As part of the Manning Valley Neighbourhood Service (MVNS) Validation Project, I had the privilege to coordinate storytelling workshops where 10 women affected by these fires shared their lived experiences and journeys of recovery.

Today, I want to share Julie’s story, a clear example of resilience and practical steps taken to reduce fire risk on her property.

Julie’s Story: Creating a Safer Rainforest Garden After the Fires

Julie and her husband Peter stayed on their property during the fires. Both are trained in the Rural Fire Service (RFS), which gave them the confidence to defend their home.

After the fires, Julie made a significant change to the landscape around their house. Originally, their yard had 15 large Cypress Pines, which are highly flammable. One of these trees even exploded after an ember landed on it, causing flames to spread dangerously.

Taking advice from fire safety experts, Julie replaced the pines with about 40 rainforest trees, plants that are less flammable and help reduce fire risk near the house.

Julie also planted a native garden to replace other flammable trees and took care to manage tanbark, which can easily ignite and spread fire. She learned how important it is to keep these plants away from the house, as tanbark fires can “creep” and reignite even after being doused.

Julie and Peter’s efforts not only saved their home but also helped protect their neighbours’ properties during the bushfires. Their community came together to support the new garden with plant vouchers and appreciation.

Watch Julie’s Story

More Women’s Recovery Stories

If you’d like to hear more from the women impacted by the Black Summer Bushfires, check out the full playlist here: Women’s recovery stories from the Black Summer Bushfires 2019/20 – YouTube

About the Validation Project and My Role

This storytelling series was part of the Manning Valley Neighbourhood Service (MVNS) Validation Project, funded through the Community Recovery and Resilience program. As Project Co-ordinator, I facilitated these workshops to create a safe space for women to share their experiences two years after the disaster.

I’m proud to work alongside the Neighbourhood Service Manager, Caron Watkins, to support this important initiative, which helps strengthen our community through shared stories and recovery.