WITHOUT WARNING (One woman's story of surviving Black Saturday)

AUTHOR Jane O'Connor

Imagine being in Melbourne, turning on the television and learning that the neighbouring town (Marysville) has been burned to the ground, then realizing that the fire responsible is racing up the valley towards your house and you can't do a thing about it.

I knew how that felt, but had no idea how someone who survived Black Saturday coped with watching their house burn to the ground in front of them.

Jane O'Connor is a journalist and although she is covering a very emotional time in her book, she does it through the eyes of a journalist in the first instance, then brings in comments about the emotions she experienced at the time.

From a coaching point of view, this book is invaluable in understanding what it felt like to be present in Kinglake as the fire rushed through. Then there was the feeling of utter isolation when the rest of the world were unable to get through to the people on the mountain with supplies and the things needed to meet basic needs.

I found comments about how core needs surfaced first eg. security, love, feeling of belonging, feeling of being good enough and the need to make a contribution even when everything you owned had disappeared.

Looters threatened security. Worry about the safety of loved ones including family pets, even when your own safety is threatened was uppermost in Jane's mind. Then came the need to check on neighbours and see what she could do to help. Jane also discusses the effects of adrenaline and what happens when it wears off.

Anyone who has suffered a traumatic event will understand that at the time adrenaline rushes and you try to do what you can to save the situation. Adrenaline stays in your body for quite some time and gives you the resources to do what has to be done. In Jane and husband Sean's case there was the block to be cleared and temporary dwelling built.
About six months down the track, the adrenaline wears off and suddenly, you can't make decisions and have to put everything on hold.

Special mention was made of the help given by the case worker appointed to them and how much it boosted Jane and Sean's morale. This is followed up later with a summary of where they are in the recovery process over a year after the fires. Many of the services offered to bushfire victims are now being wound up and this could be leaving the clients without support in their recovery but as Jane says ‘human beings are resilient and self help groups are emerging'. As long as we understand the basic needs of humans as outlined above, we can be of great assistance to those recovering from trauma of all kinds.