What does a “properly defended” house look like? Is it a bunker in a hill? A mop and bucket at every corner? Do you just need a hose and access to a tap? 

Across Australia during the bushfire season, a repeated message is that people should only stay if they’re prepared to fight the fires,, but as a bushfire approaches, even those who are most prepared, often have to make a difficult decision.

The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund directly helps people in the Victorian region: more information: www.gerf.org.au

Guests: 
Peter and Jenny Cadby
Amy Fisher
Kevin Perry 
Charmaine Sellings

Credits:
Producer Anne Wall
Executive producer and sound design Sarah Mashman
Production management team Vicky Rouse and Abe Killian
Engineering Tegan Nichols
Script consultation Zoe Ferguson
Theme Oliver Beard

This podcast has been brought to you by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, and is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas and The Paul Ramsay Foundation.

What does a &ldquo;properly defended&rdquo; house look like?&nbsp;Is it a bunker in a hill? A mop and bucket at every corner? Do you just need a hose and access to a tap?&nbsp;
Across Australia during the bushfire season, a repeated message is that people should only stay if they&rsquo;re prepared to fight the fires,, but as a bushfire approaches, even those who are most prepared, often have to make a difficult decision.
The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund directly helps people in the Victorian region: more information: <a href="https://www.gerf.org.au">www.gerf.org.au</a>
Guests:&nbsp; Peter and Jenny Cadby Amy Fisher Kevin Perry&nbsp; Charmaine Sellings
Credits: Producer Anne Wall Executive producer and sound design Sarah Mashman Production management team Vicky Rouse and Abe Killian Engineering Tegan Nichols Script consultation Zoe Ferguson Theme Oliver Beard
This podcast has been brought to you by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, and is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas and The Paul Ramsay Foundation.

In 2020, the first series of From the Embers premiered, focusing on communities across Australia who had faced fire and smoke and homes destroyed in what was one of the most difficult summers has ever seen, the 2019-20 bushfire season.

In 2022, From the Embers 2: Phoenix returns to several places featured in the first series, including Mallacoota, Kangaroo Island, and the forests of the Far north of New South Wales to explore how communities are recovering from the fires and the issues that stem from trauma and isolation, coupled with the strength gained when so much is lost.

This series will also visit new communities who are recovering from floods and seemingly never ending COVID lockdowns.

Created in partnership with community radio stations, and the generous support of the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, Paul Ramsay Foundation, The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative, and the Monash University's Fire To Flourish program.

In 2020, the first series of From the Embers premiered, focusing on communities across Australia who had faced fire and smoke and homes destroyed in what was one of the most difficult summers has ever seen, the 2019-20 bushfire season.
In 2022, From the Embers 2: Phoenix returns to several places featured in the first series, including Mallacoota, Kangaroo Island, and the forests of the Far north of New South Wales to explore how communities are recovering from the fires and the issues that stem from trauma and isolation, coupled with the strength gained when so much is lost.
This series will also visit new communities who are recovering from floods and seemingly never ending COVID lockdowns.
Created in partnership with community radio stations, and the generous support of <a href="https://jninstitute.org/">the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas</a>, <a href="https://paulramsayfoundation.org.au/">Paul Ramsay Foundation</a>, <a href="https://www.minderoo.org/fire-and-flood-resilience/">The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative</a>, and the <a href="https://www.monash.edu/msdi/initiatives/fire-to-flourish">Monash University's Fire To Flourish program</a>.

Visit the very heart of nine communities affected by the recent Australian bushfire crisis.

From The Embers

From The Embers - Stories from the Australian Bushfire Crisis

Should I Stay or Should I Go

Four Emergency level bushfires burned over one weekend in Western Australia in February 2022. With roughly 30% of WA agricultural land, most farmers are prepared for fire at any time. But when one comes, they rely heavily on volunteer farmers and locals who form the Bush Fire Brigade.

On February 6, 2022 near the small farming town of Narrogin, extreme wind and heat, coupled with a powerline spark in a dry pasture paddock, resulted in a massive fire. Only one house was lost but the impact on livestock and farmland will affect farmers years into the future.  
Content warning this feature contains stories of animals in distress

Guests:
Angus Armstrong
Mike Burges
Tammy Freestone
Michael Lange

Credits:
Producer: Leith Alexander
Executive producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman
Engineering: Tegan Nicholls
Theme music: Oliver Beard
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions
Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knecevic

This episode was made on the Wiilman and Wadjuk Countries of the Nyoongar Nation and the lands of the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded.

From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University’s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative – and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network.

Four Emergency level bushfires burned over one weekend in Western Australia in February 2022. With roughly 30% of WA agricultural land, most farmers are prepared for fire at any time. But when one comes, they rely heavily on volunteer farmers and locals who form the Bush Fire Brigade.
On February 6, 2022 near the small farming town of Narrogin, extreme wind and heat, coupled with a powerline spark in a dry pasture paddock, resulted in a massive fire. Only one house was lost but the impact on livestock and farmland will affect farmers years into the future. &nbsp; Content warning this feature contains stories of animals in distress
Guests: Angus Armstrong Mike Burges Tammy Freestone Michael Lange
Credits: Producer: Leith Alexander Executive producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman Engineering: Tegan Nicholls Theme music: Oliver Beard Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knecevic
This episode was made on the Wiilman and Wadjuk Countries of the Nyoongar Nation and the lands of the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded.
From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University&rsquo;s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative &ndash; and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network.

A Change in the Landscape

Day after day of intense rainfall fell across south east Queensland In February 2022, breaking riverbanks, swamping roads and flooding homes.

The city of Brisbane experienced one of the worst floods on record. In three days alone, Brisbane received 80 per cent of its annual rainfall as people scrambled to find higher ground to shelter.

As people recover and start to rebuild, questions are being raised over where to live and how to prepare for the future.

Guests:
Milena Cifali
Richard Havernik
Carolyn Karafa
Councillor Johnathon Sri

Credits:
Producer: Maureen Mopio
Executive producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman
Engineering: Tegan Nicholls
Theme music: Oliver Beard
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions
Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knecevic

This episode was made on the lands of the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and the land of the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded.

From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University’s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative – and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network.

Day after day of intense rainfall fell across south east Queensland In February 2022, breaking riverbanks, swamping roads and flooding homes.
The city of Brisbane experienced one of the worst floods on record. In three days alone, Brisbane received 80 per cent of its annual rainfall as people scrambled to find higher ground to shelter.
As people recover and start to rebuild, questions are being raised over where to live and how to prepare for the future.
Guests: Milena Cifali Richard Havernik Carolyn Karafa Councillor Johnathon Sri
Credits: Producer: Maureen Mopio Executive producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman Engineering: Tegan Nicholls Theme music: Oliver Beard Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knecevic
This episode was made on the lands of the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and the land of the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded.
From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University&rsquo;s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative &ndash; and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network.

Rising Rivers

Ever increasing record high flood levels are marked on the side of Lismore’s flood levee. 
Lismore, a town in Northern New South Wales is dissected by two major rivers. When there’s heavy rainfall, water flows down from the surrounding hills, slowing at the bottom and spreading across the floodplain.

The town’s residents know floods, their houses are built high, some four metres off the ground in the canopies of trees. Many have flood plans, keeping kayaks and dinghies tethered to their homes in case of emergency.

On February 27 2022, water inundated the town, sweeping away cars, stranding residents on rooftops and filling houses with inches of mud.

In the weeks that followed volunteer hubs sprang up to feed and clothe locals forced to shelter in tents and cars as they struggle to recover with minimal support and start to clean out and rebuild their homes in the trees.

Guests:
Vicki Findlay
Naomi Moran
Aidan Ricketts
Lucy Wise
Freya Woodland

Production team:
Producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman
Engineer: Tegan Nichols
Theme composer: Oliver Beard
Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions
Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knezevic

Roofs above water was made on Widjabul Wia-bal Country of the Bundjalung Nation and the lands of the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded.

From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University’s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network.

Ever increasing record high flood levels are marked on the side of Lismore&rsquo;s flood levee.&nbsp; Lismore, a town in Northern New South Wales is dissected by two major rivers. When there&rsquo;s heavy rainfall, water flows down from the surrounding hills, slowing at the bottom and spreading across the floodplain.
The town&rsquo;s residents know floods, their houses are built high, some four metres off the ground in the canopies of trees. Many have flood plans, keeping kayaks and dinghies tethered to their homes in case of emergency.
On February 27 2022, water inundated the town, sweeping away cars, stranding residents on rooftops and filling houses with inches of mud.
In the weeks that followed volunteer hubs sprang up to feed and clothe locals forced to shelter in tents and cars as they struggle to recover with minimal support and start to clean out and rebuild their homes in the trees.
Guests: Vicki Findlay Naomi Moran Aidan Ricketts Lucy Wise Freya Woodland
Production team: Producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman Engineer: Tegan Nichols Theme composer: Oliver Beard Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knezevic
Roofs above water was made on Widjabul Wia-bal Country of the Bundjalung Nation and the lands of the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded.
From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University&rsquo;s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network.

Should I Stay or Should I Go

From The Embers

In 1 playlist(s)

From The Embers - Stories from the Australian Bushfire Crisis

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips