The Forged by Fire Festival was not the ‘usual’ Bushfire recovery or resilience event. Instead of focusing on consequences of fire, the Lithgow City Council event focused on human relationships with fire. Tracie McMahon ran a storytelling booth at the event, asking what does ‘Forged by Fire’ mean to you? The answers were surprising, uplifting and sobering. (NB. This story contains images that some readers may find distressing.)
Key Points:
Fire is an integral part of human existence, but everyone’s experience is unique.
Storytelling is a tool which can be used to share knowledge as well as learn and better understand our own relationship with fire.
Community events such as Forged by Fire enable the sharing of knowledge and experiences, exposing people to new ideas and different perspectives.
When I was approached to participate, I was intrigued by the naming of the event and asked: “what do you mean by ‘Forged by Fire’?”
Verity Brookes, Lithgow City Council’s Community and Cultural Development Coordinator, explained, “We are looking at ways we master fire: like pottery, blacksmithing, cooking; and ways we live with and manage fire: such as Landcare, Rural Fire Services, and landscape adaptation. Fire is something that is part of our everyday lives, and we think it would be good to have an event with a broader focus.”
As we spoke, I realised that fire had become a bit of a ‘boogey man’ in my psyche. When I bushwalk and the wind picks up, I start checking the horizon for puffs of faraway smoke, fearful they will join me in my bush idyll. Perhaps it was time to reflect on what ‘forged by fire’ meant for me and to invite others to do the same. I suggested to Verity that we could have a story telling booth, where people could share their experiences.
At first, I had ideas of emulating Trent Dalton and sitting with a typewriter on a little desk. Perhaps this would be a bestseller, ‘Fire Stories’ instead of his ‘Love Stories’. But where would I find a functioning typewriter? I puzzled over what my novelty drawcard would be to ensure someone would visit the booth.
The day before the event, I attended Lithgow’s citizenship ceremony and listened as the Australia Day ambassador Bruno Efoti, founder of Tradies Insight, a mental health support service for tradies, told his story.
Bruno told a story of a head of Lifeline responding to his concerns that he had ‘not much’ to do all the things he wanted to do to help others. The mentor asked him to hold out his open hand and replied, “Seems to me you have everything you need.” Bruno went home, turned on his barbeque and opened his home. Soon a shed was required and over five thousand people had joined Bruno to chat. All that was needed was a space, and a willingness to listen.
So, I packed up the ‘stuff’ that feeds my own storytelling: pencils, paint, paper, books, a laptop and some example stories, and took it to the Foundations. Bruno’s mentor was right, the stories came thick and fast. We packed up by torchlight, as they switched the lights off to allow for the visual installation and music.
Following is an amalgam of the amazing stories shared at the Lithgow Area Local News story booth. Stories in word, voice, picture and anecdotes. Thank you to all who shared their stories and for agreeing to be part of this story.
What does ‘Forged by Fire’ mean to you?
Margaret Hart, sharing years of experience as a Rural Fire Service and Rescue Service volunteer.
Margaret Hart
“I feel like no one listens to local knowledge because we’re old. We need to share our knowledge and experience and we need to listen, not sensationalise it. When I see it on TV these days, it looks like chaos. When there is confidence, clear direction and knowledge, we can all work together, as one.”
Cass Coleman and Mark Macauley
Councillor Cass Coleman and Mark Macauley shared their experiences and how the Black Summer fires have forged their story.
The Kerr Family
The Kerr family were on the final leg of ‘the lap’ of Australia and would soon be returning to their home in the Northern Rivers. Lochlan declared this was his “favourite place” on the whole trip. They had been to the River Caves and Deep Pass and walking in the Grose Valley.
I asked about their experience with fire. The family of four discussed the slow creeping cultural burning fires they had driven through in Cape York and how different they seemed to the roaring bushfires TV screens had shown during Black Summer.
Lochlan’s picture story showed the charcoal landscape left behind in an unmanaged landscape. He wrote: “I painted this because bushfires happen everywhere. We can reduce that by controlled back burning and being prepared.”
Ruben told a story of bees that rush away in a fire to avoid the crackling flames. He said, “when the fire is over, the bees return and help stick the tree together, so the bees and the trees are saved.”
Lochlan (L) and Ruben (R) Kerr share their stories of their travels and thinking about fire.
Zayden Palmer
When I asked Zayden Palmer what he thought fire could be used for he was quick to point out that his favourite things, steam trains, relied on fire.
Zayden Palmer, adding the billowing smoke to his steam train story
Steam trains are an integral part of Lithgow’s history. The construction of the Zig Zag deviation created access to the Western Coalfields, and opportunities for the founders of Lithgow’s industrial past, including the Portland Cement Works, which occupied the building in which we were now sitting.
Kay Shirt
South Bowenfels resident, Kay Shirt, pops by to offer a different perspective.
“For forty years we have sat around bonfires with friends, drunk our wine and solved the problems of the world, sharing stories and laughing long and hard. The latest version of the bonfire is a repurposed satellite dish. Some of our ‘stay until the sun comes up’ people are gone, but always remembered as those friends forged by fire.”
Bonfires and friendships: the author’s own bonfire friendships in Little Hartley.
Ross Gurney
Ross Gurney, Director of Finance and Governance at Lithgow City Council, tells yet another story.
He writes: “My connection with the Lithgow community was very much forged by fire. I was the acting General Manager at the time of the 2019/20 Gospers Mountain Fire. In the days following, I organised a Mayoral tour of Clarence and Dargan and the damage was heartbreaking. We had community meetings, and both the Australian and Indonesian army joined our recovery team. Listening to the needs of the community and visiting affected community members in their homes is something I will never forget.”
The devastation in Dargan witnessed on the Mayoral Tour in December 2019 (Courtesy Ross Gurney).
As more children pop by, drawn to the colours, I am amazed by their response to the question of what do you think of fire? One asks for more green paint. She wants to paint the new trees.
Young eyes see and tell a story of the landscape recovering.
Mackenzie James with her before and after story: from flames to flannel flowers.
The James Family
Mackenzie James draws a story of the pink flowers that emerged after the fires. I suspect pink may be a favourite colour.
As the rest of David and Tess James’ brood of five busy themselves telling stories with watercolours and pencils, we chat about the adult experience and what ‘forged by fire’ might mean for them.
David says: “Check these out – it’s a hobby I started during Covid in 2020 after the fires. It’s one of my best sellers.” He shows me a handcrafted shaving brush with a resin handle. Flames leap from the base in molten red and orange.
Fire is a part of the everyday human experience, but that experience is not the same for everyone. For some, it comes with memories of trauma and loss, for others it is symbolic of change and creation. No one story is absolute. They are all our stories, worth telling, hearing and sharing.
Thanks to all those who dropped by the story booth to share their story and to help forge this story.
Take Action:
Reflect on your own experience with fire. It may surprise you.
Listen to another’s story. The Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative will be hosting In Time of Fire: a poetry performance by Harry Laing from the Southern Highlands. It will be followed by an opportunity to reflect on the experience of fire across the country. The event is free but bookings essential here
If you feel that you are experiencing discomfort or worry around fire, consider seeking professional advice: The team from Headspace Lithgow who were at the Forged by Fire event, offer support with these issues among others; Lifeline can also be contacted here
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
We are Nature, and the more intimately we connect with the living world around us, the more alive we are. Hone your observations and connect more deeply in an inspiring nature journalling workshop led by Anna Barnes from @ArtFoodCultureNature on Saturday 28 February at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
“When we see with clear eyes, we know that we are surrounded by beauty. Let yourself fall in love with your life by paying attention”. John Muir Laws
How can we engage our hearing to connect more deeply to nature around us? Join us at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend on 28 February and 1st March to hear from one of the most inspiring and engaging presenters we’ve ever had at the Planetary Health Centre. Author and acoustic ecologist Andrew Skeoch will guide us into hearing the languages of nature. Learn how we can develop our auditory awareness, identify species by ear, recognise behaviours and repertoire, and find empathy with the voices of other beings. Andrew’s presentations are an immersive weaving of evocative recordings, fascinating spectrogram analysis and original ideas. You’ll hear the natural environment around you in a whole new way. Each morning at the Wellness Weekend Andrew will also lead Deep Listening Immersive Field Workshops demonstrating how to increase your sensitive auditory perceptions of the extraordinary natural world around us. Tickets available here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
This event has been made possible because of the generous support of Greater Blue Mountains Rotary and the Katoomba and Upper Blue Mountains Bendigo Community Bank.
We are looking forward to this (Em)power(ing) tools presentation being delivered by Robyn Catchlove, Sherlie McMillan, Suzie van Opdorp and Teja Brooks Pribac at our Planetary Health Day on Sat 28 Feb. It`s free but you need to register to attend here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
This interactive presentation explores an unexpected but deeply empowering practice: using power tools. With the help of co-presenters and their favourite tools, the session demystifies DIY and shows how accessible practical skills really are. Beyond the satisfaction of building and repairing, working with power tools fosters confidence, patience, and problem-solving skills. It can also be financially empowering, reducing dependence on paid labour, and reinforces the belief that challenges—practical and personal alike—can be worked through with focus, persistence, and curiosity. This session invites participants to reconsider what empowerment can look like, and how hands-on making can translate into resilience in everyday life.
It`s one of many events during our Planetary Health Wellness Weekend at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on 28 Feb and 1 March and has been organised in collaboration with Rotarians 4 Planetary Health and Greater Blue Mountains Rotary
Medicine and healthcare is changing. Join Dr Madhu Tamilarasan, a Lithgow based GP and sports medicine doctor on Sat 28 Feb at our Planetary Health Day and Wellness Weekend, for a conversation about Lifestyle Medicine. The tagline for her practice is "General practice done differently". The practice is encouraging physical activity in the community because research clearly shows that going from no exercise to just 10 minutes of physical activity per day is where the biggest health benefits come from. Any patient who attends an appointment by "active transport" - such as walking, running, cycling - instead of by motorised transport, receives a small discount on their consultation fee that day. Lifestyle medicine focuses on treating the root causes of disease rather than just managing symptoms. Register here to attend Dr Tamilarasan`s session to learn more about its benefits for individuals, community and globally (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
Places are booking out quickly for the inspiring talks and workshops at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend in Katoomba on Sat 28 Feb and Sun 1 March. View the full program and register to attend here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
Each morning, you have the chance to join Andrew Skeoch, renowned wildlife sound recordist and author of `Deep Listening to Nature`, for an immersive workshop and walk to hear the intricate conversations happening in the natural world around us.
There will also be: • nature journalling • mindfulness • creativity • (Em)power(ing) tools • Ikebana • Shared Reading • Tai Chi and Qigong • Chair Yoga • Mental Health First Aid • exercise, sleep and your health • how to share loss and grieving for and with animals • and a celebration of the many faith-based groups in the Blue Mountains focused on healing our land, healing ourselves.
A huge thank you to Greater Blue Mountains Rotary and Katoomba and Upper Blue Mountains Bendigo Community Bank for sponsoring this wonderful weekend.
We’d love you to join the Planetary Health Centre for an inspiring Planetary Health Wellness Weekend on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1st March in Katoomba! We’ve collaborated with Rotarians 4 Planetary Health (part of Greater Blue Mountains Rotary) and the Blue Mountains Interfaith Group, to create a program focused on the many ways we can improve our physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health in a weekend of community and nature connection, talks, workshops, stalls and delicious food.
The weekend kicks off with our third Planetary Health Day on Saturday and finishes with an Interfaith Gathering on Sunday.
Each morning, you have the chance to join Andrew Skeoch, renowned wildlife sound recordist and author of `Deep Listening to Nature`, for an immersive workshop and walk to hear the intricate conversations happening in the natural world around us.
View the full program and register to attend here (link in profile):
• Deep Listening immersive field workshops • Mental Health First Aid • nature journalling • mindfulness • creativity • (Em)power(ing) tools • Ikebana • Shared Reading • Tai Chi and Qigong • Chair Yoga • exercise, sleep and your health • how to share loss and grieving for and with animals • and a celebration of the many faith-based groups in the Blue Mountains focused on healing our land, healing ourselves.
A huge thank you to Greater Blue Mountains Rotary and Katoomba and Upper Blue Mountains Bendigo Community Bank for sponsoring this wonderful weekend.
We had a thoroughly enjoyable final Skill Share Saturday for the year yesterday with Qigong, Fashion Upcycling, Seed Saving and Bushcare! We shared seeds from local gardens and harvested carrots, as well as Mizuna, Broad Bean, Daikon and Land Cress seeds from the Planetary Health garden. We then packaged up (and shared) our first Upper Mountains Seed Savers packs for our fledgling Seed Bank. In Bushcare it`s very exciting to see whole new areas of the Planetary Health Precinct open up as we remove invasive weeds. It`s been a year of great progress as we`ve restored habitat for wildlife and given local native plants the opportunity to flourish and re-establish on the site.
Join the Planetary Health Centre this Sat 6 Dec for the last Skill Share Saturday of the year: Qigong at 9am, Seed Saving & Gardening Group at 10am, and Bushcare at 1.30pm. One perfect day with great company, great coffee and food, and great steps for living a healthy balanced life, while also contributing to the health of our planet for present and future generations. All ages welcome!
Registration links in profile and below.
Register for Qigong here: https://bit.ly/48wlHjD Register for Seed Saving & Gardening here: https://bit.ly/4prcRe7 Register for Bushcare here: https://bit.ly/4oAFDrz
We have a rare opportunity to learn about the newest and best possible ways to support family and community members struggling with mental health issues, at a free talk and afternoon tea provided by Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary at the Planetary Health Centre at 2pm this Saturday 29 Nov. Hear from Peter Joseph AM, Chair of the Black Dog Institute, and Professor Helen Christensen AO, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and former Executive Director and Chief Scientist at the Black Dog Institute. They`ll be in conversation with journalist Emma Rossi. Dr Christensen is a pioneer in using the internet to reach young people struggling with depression. Her digital mental health interventions are used by millions globally, delivering evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Her research uses data from smartphones and wearables – like movement, screen use, and sleep – to detect early signs of mental health issues. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
This Saturday Sherlie McMillan from Rotarians 4 Planetary Health will be running a workshop on How to use a sewing machine from 9am at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Learn how to set up a machine, service it, troubleshoot when it`s not sewing correctly, and learn some basic sewing skills.
Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/how-to-use-your-sewing-machine
NB. This class is a prerequisite for our very popular Fashion Upcycling classes held once a month.
We`re thrilled to announce that Professor Helen Christensen, a pioneer in using the internet to reach young people struggling with depression, will be joining the conversation with Peter Joseph AM from the Black Dog Institute and journalist Emma Rossi at the Planetary Health Centre at 2pm this Saturday 29 November. Helen was the Executive Director and Chief Scientist for the Black Dog Institute for 10 years and has now been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Her digital mental health interventions are used by millions globally, delivering evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Her research uses data from smartphones and wearables – like movement, screen use, and sleep – to detect early signs of mental health issues. This free event is being co-hosted by Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. Afternoon tea will be provided. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
Human composting is increasingly being legalised around the world. Read about it in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/legalising-human-composting/
If you’d like to see this option available in NSW you can now sign a live petition to the NSW Parliament here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/43QIHbz
Tracie lives, writes and walks on the unceded lands of the Dharug, Gundungurra and Wiradjuri people. Born in Lithgow, she and her family have spent most of their lives living and working with the people and places of the Lithgow area. Her passions are nature and community, which she pursues through story, art, and volunteering in Lithgow and the Blue Mountains.
Chris Oddie is a passionate member of the Lithgow Environment Group (LEG). With other members of LEG, she became increasingly concerned about the growing number of invasive Indian Myna birds proliferating in Lithgow. Mynas are listed among 100 of the world's worst invasive species by the World Conservation Union.
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