NEWS DESK
Drawings honour heroes of a black summer Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A MOUNT Eliza children’s book illustrator is playing a role in helping children overcome the ordeals they experienced during the East Gippsland region’s terrifying 2019-20 bushfires. The Heroes of Black Summer picture book tells the stories of the “heroes” who helped protect them and, through this, aims to help children process the trauma without suffering stress, anxiety or depression. Karen Erasmus, who has lived in Mount Eliza for 15 years, drew 16 full-page illustrations in the book which was written by Kylie Miller and Craig Sheather and published by Australian Geographic. It was published with a One Good Community Wellbeing Grant through Gippsland Primary Health Network. More than half of East Gippsland was burnt in the fires, which raged for three months and had a devastating and long-lasting impact on the community. Erasmus said she and the authors hoped Heroes of Black Summer would promote resilience in children, while strengthening their connection with adults in their families as they read, heal and look at the pictures together. “Kylie is a Gippsland woman who is really enthusiastic about celebrating what people did in fighting the fires, rescuing wildlife and saving their communities,” Erasmus said, while driving down to Buchan to help launch the book last week. “My favourite picture is the one of the lady and her lemon tree. It stands out from the others as it’s a calm summery garden picture, and it’s about the author of the book.” She was referring to author Miller’s own experience of receiving the tree donated through a pay-it-forward scheme run by Nowa Nowa general store and planting it in her burnt-out Wairewa orchard as a sign of re-emergence. Heroes of Black Summer captured moments, including the rescue of endangered species by wildlife experts,
the Royal Australian Navy’s rescuing of people from the beach at Mallacoota, Bairnsdale police saving a kangaroo from the flames, a Mallacoota boatie rescuing stranded hikers, a pay-it-forward scheme set up by Nowa Nowa general store to share donations, volunteers preparing meals at Sarsfield using food donated by local businesses, a Bruthen wildlife carer who took in burnt and homeless wildlife, a young hunter who rescued injured and hungry koalas at Mallacoota, two Sarsfield brothers who lost their home then built fences as Blaze Aid volunteers, Canadian firefighters who helped repair damage at Buchan, and Parks Victoria habitat experts who surveyed the damage by air. The authors said it was impossible to include everyone who gave so much to the community during that awful time … “from the CFA firefighters and volunteers who were out there day-in-day-out for months, police, emergency workers, charities and service organisations, government agencies, and all the generous people and businesses who donated,” Miller said. “Many of them had been impacted by fire themselves and their generosity was overwhelming. By writing this book, we hope to say thank you and give something back ourselves.” Gippsland Primary Health Network CEO Amanda Proposch said books were important resources in helping children deal with trauma, including bushfires. “We were delighted to support the book and hope it will provide our communities with a helpful resource to manage stress, anxiety and depression to support healing and recovery,” she said. Five hundred copies will be donated to children and communities impacted by the bushfires, and 25 per cent of proceeds from sales will go to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund. Heroes of Black Summer is available at bookshops or online. Drawn in: Illustrator Karen Erasmus with a copy of her book at Mount Eliza newsagency. Picture: Supplied
Attention Schools, sporting clubs & community groups
Free advertising listings Each month the Mornington News will run a Community Events page, where your school or organisation can promote upcoming events, fund raisers, social events, etc. at no charge. This page is sponsored by the Mornington Village Shopping Centre and listings are completely free. Listings should be about 40 words and include event name, date, time & address.
Send your listing to:
Community Events
PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or email communityevents@mpnews.com.au
Olympian in the swim at Yawa Continued from Page 1 Before taking up coaching, Purvis competed in international events, including two Olympic Games. She represented Great Britain at the 1984 Games, finishing fifth in the final of the 200-metre butterfly, and at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where she was a finalist and British team captain. She was also a medallist at the 1986 and 1990 Commonwealth Games. The coach also has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Sports Science and is a Swimming Australia advanced coach. “As a local resident on the Mornington Peninsula for the past 14 years, I am very excited to be coaching at the new Yawa Aquatic Centre in Rosebud,” Purvis said on joining the Flyer’s coaching team. “The centre looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to begin coaching all the local children in the region.” Club president Tim Wallace said: “Samantha
SPECIALISING IN SENIORS TOURS DAY TRIPS XMAS IN JULY - ROSE COTTAGE Thu 22 July FULLY BOOKED Wed 28 July BOOKINGS OPEN $85pp incl. trad Xmas lunch DOLL HOUSE: MINIATURE WORLD OF WONDERS - COMO HOUSE Wed 4 August $75pp incl. exhibition entry & hotel lunch PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Wed 8 Dec $149pp Matinee: A Reserve Seating
Mornington News
13 July 2021
Phelan to speak JADE Phelan will be guest speaker at the Probus Club of Mount Eliza’s next meeting. The CEO of The Bays Hospital Mornington is a healthcare executive with experience in managing private hospitals. She will discuss the history of Two Bays, its current services and developmental plans. The meeting is at the Uniting Church, Canadian Bay Road, Mount Eliza, 10.30am, Monday 9 August. Visitors welcome, attendance is free and refreshments will be served from 10.15am. Details: Tim Acton 0418 310 727.
Did you know... you can view our papers online
EXTENDED TRIPS
Home Pick Up & Return Service (t&c’s apply)
ALBURY, WODONGA & YARRAWONGA 9 – 13 August $1525pp ($275 s/s) MILDURA & SWAN HILL 22 – 28 August $2285pp ($400 s/s) ECHUCA & THE MIGHTY MURRAY 20 – 24 September $1525pp ($250 s/s)
FULLY ESCORTED SENIORS TOURS 1300 274 880 (local call cost)
Info@daytripper.com.au | www.daytripper.com.au
PAGE 6
will be a valuable addition to our coaching team. She has a strong background of success as both an athlete and as a coach and will bring a lot of experience and enthusiasm into the club and the athletes living on the peninsula.” Purvis will join the lead coach Frankston Rachel Smart as the joint leaders of the Flyers swimming programs in Frankston and on the peninsula.
www.mpnews.com.au