Hope Loss Resilience

In this, our final, episode we hear from different communities from around the Shire. We know that communities come in all shapes and sizes, and that people's relationships are central to resilience. When people come together adnd collectively do whatever they can to support each other, relationships are preserved, nurtured, strengthened and enriched. These relationships are key to small communities, and they are vital when building resilience and strength against future crises.

The stories we’ve heard throughout this series reveal grief or loss for many, but we’ve also heard how experiences have changed the ways people think about themselves, their relationships, and their sense of safety. These scars include both physical losses and psychological transformations. Stories of hope, loss and resilience take many forms and the storiespeople have shred with us during this podcast series inimately illustrate the different ways people in the Bega Valley remain connected and hopeful.

The story of COVID-19 isn't a single crisis but a compounding cumulative one: these are rural stories of grief and ingenuity, told with humour, warmth or rawness. In these stories we explore the different ways people stay hopeful, deal with loss, and remain resilient and connected. We explore the complexities and nuances of how people in a single rural shire prepared for, confronted and lived through the pandemic. 

________

© Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Valley Shire Library 2019-2024

Acknowledgement of Country

Bega Valley Shire Library acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the lands, waterways and airspace on which we live.

Help if you need

Mental Health Line (NSW Health): 1800 011 511

Lifeline: 13 11 14; SMS: 0477 13 11 14; W: lifeline.org.au

Acknowledgement of funding

The Talking Together oral histories project made possible by funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (Resilience NSW). The NSW Reconstruction Authority is dedicated to disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery & reconstruction.

Funded under the joint Australian Government–NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the NSW Government.

All music

“Rocks and Snow” David Ross Macdonald: Bandcamp

“3XQ” Baron Grand: Epidemic Sound

“Fairy Tale” Livio Amato: Epidemic Sound

“Glitch in Reality” David Celeste: Epidemic Sound 

“Rainbow” Borrtex: Epidemic Sound

“Hibernation” Hushed: Epidemic Sound

“Thoughts Of You” Dana Boulé: Epidemic Sound. 

“Bush Sounds” recorded around the Bega Valley.

Image Credits

Series

Episodes

Further Audio: 

Podcasts

Website design

Natalie Martin-Remmert

Project Officer

Craig Garrett

Project Lead & Management:

Linda Albertson

Sugita Wahl (and coffee partner-in-crime)

Podcast production:

Craig Garrett (Producer, Sound Design, Audio Editing, Scripting)

Shona Hawkes (Producer, Scripting)

Oral Histories production

Craig Garrett (Interviewer, Workshop Facilitator, Audio Editing)

The complete Talking Together Oral Histories interviews are available at the Bega Valley Shire Library Catalogue

Interview transcription

Jo Oastler

Alexander Mercieca

Trish Dive

Janet Reynolds

SeedPod Audio Collective

Shona Hawkes

Craig Garrett

Anita Coakley

Pamela Cleo Goddard

Lisa Herbert

Stephen Bayliss

Oral Histories extra organisation

Anita Coakley for organising interviews and workshops in Towamba.

Carly McDonald at Headspace for organising the Youth Reference Group interview.

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In this episode we hear from three very different Bega Valley businesses, and while these stories can’t fully capture the breadth of enterprises in the shire — because, like so many places, the nature of business in the Bega Valley is just so diverse — this episode does give valuable insights into how community goals can co-exist alongside financial targets.

What COVID uncovered for many local businesses was conflict: between employees and employers, between customers and the business itself, between keeping people safe and keeping the business viable, and between the business and the different levels of government. By making conflict visible — in some cases for the first time — the divides between how individuals perceived and reacted to the pandemic, and the consequences this had for making everyday decisions were profound. For small communities, the question of conflict most often centres around trust and respect, needs and expectations, common ground and mutual benefits. Working through conflicting views and values can — in the best cases — help us to better understand ourselves, grow our empathy and compassion, and build skills fundamental to community resilience.

The story of COVID-19 in the Bega Valley isn't a single crisis but a compounding cumulative one: these are rural stories of grief and ingenuity, told with humour, warmth or rawness. In these stories we explore the different ways people stay hopeful, deal with loss, and remain resilient and connected. We explore the complexities and nuances of how people in a single rural shire prepared for, confronted and lived through the pandemic. 

________

© Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Valley Shire Library 2019-2024

Acknowledgement of Country

Bega Valley Shire Library acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the lands, waterways and airspace on which we live.

Help if you need

Mental Health Line (NSW Health): 1800 011 511

Lifeline: 13 11 14; SMS: 0477 13 11 14; W: lifeline.org.au

Acknowledgement of funding

The Talking Together oral histories project made possible by funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (Resilience NSW). The NSW Reconstruction Authority is dedicated to disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery & reconstruction.

Funded under the joint Australian Government–NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the NSW Government.

All music

“Rocks and Snow” David Ross Macdonald: Bandcamp

“3XQ” Baron Grand: Epidemic Sound

“Fairy Tale” Livio Amato: Epidemic Sound

“Glitch in Reality” David Celeste: Epidemic Sound 

“Rainbow” Borrtex: Epidemic Sound

"Hibernation" Hushed: Epidemic Sound

Image Credits

Series

Episodes

Further Audio:

Podcasts

Website design

Natalie Martin-Remmert

Project Officer

Craig Garrett

Project Lead & Management:

Linda Albertson

Sugita Wahl (and coffee partner-in-crime)

Podcast production:

Craig Garrett (Producer, Sound Design, Audio Editing, Scripting)

Shona Hawkes (Producer, Scripting)

Oral Histories production

Craig Garrett (Interviewer, Workshop Facilitator, Audio Editing)

The complete Talking Together Oral Histories interviews are available at the Bega Valley Shire Library Catalogue

Interview transcription

Jo Oastler

Alexander Mercieca

Trish Dive

Janet Reynolds

SeedPod Audio Collective

Shona Hawkes

Craig Garrett

Anita Coakley

Pamela Cleo Goddard

Lisa Herbert

Stephen Bayliss

Oral Histories extra organisation

Anita Coakley for organising interviews and workshops in Towamba.

Carly McDonald at Headspace for organising the Youth Reference Group interview.

In this episode we look at education from both sides of the classroom, speaking with students and teachers alike, and touching on the lives of rural young people during those early pandemic years. We hear about what school's like when no-one’s at school; how both students and teachers coped during the lockdowns; and the challenges younger and older high school students faced.

While there’s been a lot written and said about the impacts of COVID on young people, there’s been fewer opportunities to hear directly from young people themselves. And as we know, young people living in rural and regional communities deal with completely different sets of circumstances and issues compared to those living in urban or city areas.

The story of COVID-19 in the Bega Valley isn't a single crisis but a compounding cumulative one: these are rural stories of grief and ingenuity, told with humour, warmth or rawness. In these stories we explore the different ways people stay hopeful, deal with loss, and remain resilient and connected. We explore the complexities and nuances of how people in a single rural shire prepared for, confronted and lived through the pandemic. 

________

© Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Valley Shire Library 2019-2024

Acknowledgement of Country

Bega Valley Shire Library acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the lands, waterways and airspace on which we live.

Help if you need

Mental Health Line (NSW Health): 1800 011 511

Lifeline: 13 11 14; SMS: 0477 13 11 14; W: lifeline.org.au

Acknowledgement of funding

The Talking Together oral histories project made possible by funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (Resilience NSW). The NSW Reconstruction Authority is dedicated to disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery & reconstruction.

Funded under the joint Australian Government–NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the NSW Government.

All music

“Rocks and Snow” David Ross Macdonald: Bandcamp

“3XQ” Baron Grand: Epidemic Sound

“Fairy Tale” Livio Amato: Epidemic Sound

“Glitch in Reality” David Celeste: Epidemic Sound 

“Rainbow” Borrtex: Epidemic Sound

Image Credits

Series

Episodes

Further Audio:

Podcasts

Website design

Natalie Martin-Remmert

Project Officer

Craig Garrett

Project Lead & Management:

Linda Albertson

Sugita Wahl (and coffee partner-in-crime)

Podcast production:

Craig Garrett (Producer, Sound Design, Audio Editing, Scripting)

Shona Hawkes (Producer, Scripting)

Oral Histories production

Craig Garrett (Interviewer, Workshop Facilitator, Audio Editing)

The complete Talking Together Oral Histories interviews are available at the Bega Valley Shire Library Catalogue

Interview transcription

Jo Oastler

Alexander Mercieca

Trish Dive

Janet Reynolds

SeedPod Audio Collective

Shona Hawkes

Craig Garrett

Anita Coakley

Pamela Cleo Goddard

Lisa Herbert

Stephen Bayliss

Oral Histories extra organisation

Anita Coakley for organising interviews and workshops in Towamba.

Carly McDonald at Headspace for organising the Youth Reference Group interview.

In this episode — the second of two parts — we hear about the personal worries our healthcare workers faced as they tried to keep their communities, families, friends, colleagues and themselves safe. 

These rural stories, that are rarely told, tell of the complexities in how people in a single rural shire prepare for, confront and live through COVID-19, and how the pandemic was interwoven with the day-to-day realities of life — set against the backdrop of bushfires, drought and floods.

The story of COVID-19 in the Bega Valley isn't a single crisis but a compounding cumulative one: these are stories of grief and ingenuity, told with humour, warmth or rawness. In these stories we explore the different ways people stay hopeful, deal with loss, and remain resilient and connected.

In Health (part I) we heard how health workers managed a range of professional and logistical challenges in preparing for the pandemic.

________

© Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Valley Shire Library 2019-2024

Acknowledgement of Country

Bega Valley Shire Library acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the lands, waterways and airspace on which we live.

Help if you need

Mental Health Line (NSW Health): 1800 011 511

Lifeline: 13 11 14; SMS: 0477 13 11 14; W: lifeline.org.au

Acknowledgement of funding

The Talking Together oral histories project made possible by funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (Resilience NSW). The NSW Reconstruction Authority is dedicated to disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery & reconstruction.

Funded under the joint Australian Government–NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the NSW Government.

All music

“Rocks and Snow” David Ross Macdonald: Bandcamp

“3XQ” Baron Grand: Epidemic Sound

“Fairy Tale” Livio Amato: Epidemic Sound

“Glitch in Reality” David Celeste: Epidemic Sound 

Image Credits

Series

Episodes

Further Audio:

Archive Audio

ABC: Original broadcast material from the South East Breakfast Program supplied by ABC, your Emergency Broadcaster.

Podcasts

Website design

Natalie Martin-Remmert

Project Officer

Craig Garrett

Project Lead & Management:

Linda Albertson

Sugita Wahl (and coffee partner-in-crime)

Podcast production:

Craig Garrett (Producer, Sound Design, Audio Editing, Scripting)

Shona Hawkes (Producer, Scripting)

Oral Histories production

Craig Garrett (Interviewer, Workshop Facilitator, Audio Editing)

The complete Talking Together Oral Histories interviews are available at the Bega Valley Shire Library Catalogue

Interview transcription

Jo Oastler

Alexander Mercieca

Trish Dive

Janet Reynolds

SeedPod Audio Collective

Shona Hawkes

Craig Garrett

Anita Coakley

Pamela Cleo Goddard

Lisa Herbert

Stephen Bayliss

Oral Histories extra organisation

Anita Coakley for organising interviews and workshops in Towamba.

Carly McDonald at Headspace for organising the Youth Reference Group interview.

Emma Woolley and Vanessa Barratt (both Southern NSW Local Health District).

In this episode — the first in a two-part focus on Health — we hear people's reflections on those first days of the pandemic. The complexities and nuances in how people in a single rural shire prepare for, confront and live through the pandemic is telling. Even in a local bushfire crisis, many people were already tracking COVID-19 closely.

These rural stories, that are rarely told, show how the pandemic was interwoven with the realities of life — set against the backdrop of the bushfires and drought.

The story of COVID-19 in the Bega Valley isn't a single crisis but a compounding cumulative one: these are stories of grief and ingenuity, told with humour, warmth or rawness. In these stories we explore the different ways people stay hopeful, deal with loss, and remain resilient and connected.

________

© Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Valley Shire Library 2019-2024

Acknowledgement of Country

Bega Valley Shire Library acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the lands, waterways and airspace on which we live.

Help if you need

Mental Health Line (NSW Health): 1800 011 511

Lifeline: 13 11 14; SMS: 0477 13 11 14; W: lifeline.org.au

Acknowledgement of funding

The Talking Together oral histories project made possible by funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (Resilience NSW). The NSW Reconstruction Authority is dedicated to disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery & reconstruction.

Funded under the joint Australian Government–NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the NSW Government.

All music

“Rocks and Snow” David Ross Macdonald: Bandcamp

“3XQ” Baron Grand: Epidemic Sound

“Fairy Tale” Livio Amato: Epidemic Sound

“Glitch in Reality” David Celeste: Epidemic Sound 

Image Credits

Series

Episodes

Further Audio:

Archive Audio

ABC: Original broadcast material from the South East Breakfast Program supplied by ABC, your Emergency Broadcaster.

Podcasts

Website design

Natalie Martin-Remmert

Project Officer

Craig Garrett

Project Lead & Management:

Linda Albertson

Sugita Wahl (and coffee partner-in-crime)

Podcast production:

Craig Garrett (Producer, Sound Design, Audio Editing, Scripting)

Shona Hawkes (Producer, Scripting)

Oral Histories production

Craig Garrett (Interviewer, Workshop Facilitator, Audio Editing)

The complete Talking Together Oral Histories interviews are available at the Bega Valley Shire Library Catalogue

Interview transcription

Jo Oastler

Alexander Mercieca

Trish Dive

Janet Reynolds

SeedPod Audio Collective

Shona Hawkes

Craig Garrett

Anita Coakley

Pamela Cleo Goddard

Lisa Herbert

Stephen Bayliss

Oral Histories extra organisation

Anita Coakley for organising interviews and workshops in Towamba.

Carly McDonald at Headspace for organising the Youth Reference Group interview.

Emma Woolley and Vanessa Barratt (both Southern NSW Local Health District).

The story of COVID-19 in the Bega Valley isn't a single crisis but a compounding cumulative one. So while COVID-19 is global, the experiences of these last few years can't be separated from local stories.

These are stories of grief and ingenuity, told with humour, warmth or rawness. These stories explore the different ways people stay hopeful, deal with loss, and remain resilient and connected.

We’re starting a series about COVID-19 with an episode about fire, or more precisely bushfires, because, for almost everyone I interviewed for this project, the 2019/2020 Australian Black Summer Bushfires loom large, and so the arrival of COVID-19 and the beginning of the pandemic is almost inseparable from the devastation of the fires. Here, in this place, you can’t talk about one without the other.

________

© Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Valley Shire Library 2019-2024

Acknowledgement of Country

Bega Valley Shire Library acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the lands, waterways and airspace on which we live.

Help if you need

Mental Health Line (NSW Health): 1800 011 511

Lifeline: 13 11 14; SMS: 0477 13 11 14; W: lifeline.org.au

Acknowledgement of funding

The Talking Together oral histories project made possible by funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (Resilience NSW). The NSW Reconstruction Authority is dedicated to disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery & reconstruction.

Funded under the joint Australian Government–NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the NSW Government.

All music

“Rocks and Snow” David Ross Macdonald: Bandcamp

“3XQ” Baron Grand: Epidemic Sound

“Fairy Tale” Livio Amato: Epidemic Sound

“Glitch in Reality” David Celeste: Epidemic Sound 

Image Credits

Series

Episodes

Further Audio:

Archive Audio

ABC: Original broadcast material from the South East Breakfast Program supplied by ABC, your Emergency Broadcaster.

Podcasts

Website design

Natalie Martin-Remmert

Project Officer

Craig Garrett

Project Lead & Management:

Linda Albertson

Sugita Wahl (and coffee partner-in-crime)

Podcast production:

Craig Garrett (Producer, Sound Design, Audio Editing, Scripting)

Shona Hawkes (Producer, Scripting)

Oral Histories production

Craig Garrett (Interviewer, Workshop Facilitator, Audio Editing)

The complete Talking Together Oral Histories interviews are available at the Bega Valley Shire Library Catalogue

Interview transcription

Jo Oastler

Alexander Mercieca

Trish Dive

Janet Reynolds

SeedPod Audio Collective

Shona Hawkes

Craig Garrett

Anita Coakley

Pamela Cleo Goddard

Lisa Herbert

Stephen Bayliss

Oral Histories extra organisation

Anita Coakley for organising interviews and workshops in Towamba.

Carly McDonald at Headspace for organising the Youth Reference Group interview.

Emma Woolley and Vanessa Barratt (both Southern NSW Local Health District).

Drought statistics

NSW Department of Industry drought update 2019

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