Beyond the Deluge: Flood Resilience Stories from the Hunter Valley

Being Local during Disaster and the Role of Magooney's Coffee Shop with Melissa O'Toole

Melissa O'Toole, a well-respected Broke Village local, gives us her perspective on the floods both from her personal experience and from what is now a hub of the village, Magoony's Coffee House, which plays an important part in village life. 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 [https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact] We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes6540] || Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084850387170] || Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/] || LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/] || Website [https://kintsugiheroes.com.au/] Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie [https://open.spotify.com/track/0rCAtNaakT6CDq0LcZjZc3] This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center [https://www.singletonneighbourhoodcentre.org.au/] with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network [https://thephn.com.au/].

A Love of Wollombi, Volunteering in the RFS & the Historic Pub with Chris Books

Chris Brooks, the proprietor of the iconic Wollombi Tavern during the July 2022 flood, is a resilient and community-oriented individual. In the early eighties, when Chris was in the army he discovered the tavern during regular trips to Singleton. 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 [https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact] We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes6540] || Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084850387170] || Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/] || LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/] || Website [https://kintsugiheroes.com.au/] Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie [https://open.spotify.com/track/0rCAtNaakT6CDq0LcZjZc3] This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center [https://www.singletonneighbourhoodcentre.org.au/] with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network [https://thephn.com.au/].

Returning Home and the Flood Impacts on Broke Estate with Bernadette Tolson

Bernadette lives with her husband, Max, on a property called Broke Estate on the outskirts of Broke where they have accommodation, a vineyard, and cattle. They were on other side of the road collapse that blocked of the local villages. Eventually they could get to Singleton but it was a few days before they could get into Broke. ‘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/ [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 [https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact] We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes6540] || Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084850387170] || Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/] || LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/] || Website [https://kintsugiheroes.com.au/] Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie [https://open.spotify.com/track/0rCAtNaakT6CDq0LcZjZc3] This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center [https://www.singletonneighbourhoodcentre.org.au/] with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network [https://thephn.com.au/].

Natural Disaster Trauma: What the Research Says with Rob Gordon

Rob Gordon 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 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 [rob@robgordon.com.au] Check out our Special Series about Recovery from the 2019/2020 Bushfires Kintsugi Heroes: Alpine Series (YouTube) [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvWGYmXsM8BBz1ajxD6PrQ2fy-z7upiwY] Kintsugi Heroes: Alpine Series (Audio RSS) [https://kintsugiheroesalpine.captivate.fm/listen] ***** 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 [https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact] We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes6540] || Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084850387170] || Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/] || LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/] || Website [https://kintsugiheroes.com.au/] Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie [https://open.spotify.com/track/0rCAtNaakT6CDq0LcZjZc3] This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center [https://www.singletonneighbourhoodcentre.org.au/] with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network [https://thephn.com.au/].

The Hero of Broke: Operational Excellence and Generosity with Mick McCardle

Mick is a man who was acknowledged by the village as being an absolute hero when it came to supporting the community. His operational role was essential and his heart was huge when it came to supporting the local people. 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 [https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact] We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes6540] || Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084850387170] || Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/] || LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/] || Website [https://kintsugiheroes.com.au/] Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie [https://open.spotify.com/track/0rCAtNaakT6CDq0LcZjZc3] This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center [https://www.singletonneighbourhoodcentre.org.au/] with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network [https://thephn.com.au/].