To mark the second anniversary of the Black Summer Bushfires, Kempsey Shire Council held a premiere event for the Black Summer and Beyond documentary on Wednesday evening.
Attended by residents featured in the film, dignitaries, RFS volunteers and key stakeholders, Wednesday's screening was a huge success. The documentary features locals telling their experiences of the 2019 bushfires, delivering a powerful and raw account of how truly devastating this time was, and still is, for them and the community.
The film opens with an introduction by legendary Australian actor, and Mid North Coast resident, Jack Thompson, outlining the catastrophic impact the bushfires had on the Macleay Valley. A powerful original poem by local Erica Macaulay, titled By the Grace of God, then provides a fitting conclusion.
Kempsey Shire Council General Manager, Craig Milburn, introduced the documentary, acknowledging the devastation of the bushfires that are still being felt today and the strength of the Macleay Valley that continues to remain united towards recovering and healing.
"The bushfires were a terrible time for the Kempsey Shire. The courage and willingness to share your experiences from this time is something to admire and by doing this, you're helping prepare our community for future disasters," said Mr Milburn.
"I want to thank you for telling your stories. I have never experienced a community as strong and giving as this one and this is just more evidence of the amazing spirit of the Macleay."
Commissioner for Resilience NSW, Shane Fitzsimmons, travelled to Kempsey to introduce the premiere screening. He acknowledged the bravery of those sharing their experiences and the agencies involved in the response to the bushfires.
Aunty Ruth from Nulla Creek Aboriginal Reserve, who also appears in the documentary, provided a Welcome to Country. She then expressed her hope that the film would share the need to better prepare for bushfire season through seasonal burn-offs.
The documentary's creative lead, BathTime Productions Creative Director Clare Bath, spoke of the strength of the locals appearing in the series and the sense of community she felt while undertaking the project with Council.
Free public screenings of the documentary will be held at Majestic Cinema Kempsey over the coming weeks before being released online. To view Erica's original poem and to find out more about ongoing readiness and recovery programs, head to ksc.pub/recovery.
By the Grace of God - an original poem by Erica Macaulay
