Anchoring my Home

I created the anchor because I needed something to fight back the cyclone. I saw some people up the road had a small wooden anchor in their yard and I was with my neighbour and I said “Maybe we should all anchor our houses down.” And then I noticed all the rubbish in my neighbours’ yard so I picked out a drain pipe and a few bits and pieces from her place and out of the cyclone rubbish I made the anchor and then thought well why not tie it to the house. The grandchildren came along and said “Aw Grandma that’s great,” they thought it was so funny.

Lots of people have stopped when driving past, one in particular, a father with his two sons raced out and his kids raced around, stood in front of the anchor and he lined them up and made sure they stood in just the right place and was taking their photo and I thought I should race down and get a photo of this they were so gorgeous and I couldn’t find my camera in a hurry so I missed out on the photo.

                                                                                              By Christine Jenkins

Christine tells her story.

Operation Angel

More about Operation Angel

Dance for Recovery

Documenting a Dance Workshop, I found some time for creative shots. This workshop was using movement to help people unpack their experience of cyclone.

Danielle Wilson was the workshop creator.  Watch the video to find out more.

Slowing Down

During the fourth post-cyclone week I slowed down, appreciated the air conditioning and wrote a children’s picture book text – a cyclone story! Joe kept organising and doing farm recovery work but was sleeping after lunch when possible.

Following that our lives seemed fairly normal superficially (unless repair work was going on in the house) but our emotions remain closer to the surface and we need more sleep. Work on the house was completed late September but Joe worked the cane season without one decent farm shed. Foundations for two new sheds are being poured today.

Watching nature cover her scars with green leaves and bright flowers is solace for us.

We try not to show it but we both have more ups and downs than is usual. I know we require a little more recovery time. We need to be gentle and tolerant with each other and with our traumatised community.

                                                                   By Pam Galeano

A video about Pam and Joe, who are pictured above.