This year has been one of the most challenging of Rebecca’s life…
In January, her home narrowly escaped destruction from the horrific bushfires which raged across East Gippsland. A home she shared with her partner of 10 years, Jemahl and her youngest son, Angus.
“We could see fire on the two sides of the house. The fire was up on the back road behind us and up on the side road over the hill. We were lucky it didn’t go past the house behind us…It was only because of the neighbour’s fire breakers and his sprinklers going that it didn’t come down any further down that hill.”
When Rebecca returned home after evacuating, there was ash everywhere throughout the garden – and most of their furniture and clothing was ruined by the smoke.
“We were one of the lucky ones. People lost their lives and so many lost their homes during the fires.”
By March the fires were out and it looked like life was starting to return to normal. But instead it took a turn for the worse. Jemahl suddenly became very sick and very sadly in June, he collapsed and passed away in Rebecca’s arms.
“I’ve lost four people that I love dearly this year, including Jemahl. It’s been quite hard, not being able to go to church and not being able to speak to him.”
Heartbroken after losing the love of her life and struggling to make ends meet - Rebecca tried to keep everything together for her children. But it all became too much and she fell in to a deep depression.
Rebecca didn’t know who to turn to. She needed someone to listen and to help her through this immense grief and pain. But finding someone close to home in regional Victoria was extremely difficult until…
Her son’s school principal reached out and put Rebecca in touch with one of our Bushfire Community Recovery Service Counsellors.
Since then, Rebecca has had regular phone call sessions with her counsellor. These counselling calls have become a beacon of hope in dark times.
The counselling calls provide Rebecca with the skills to cope with her grief, to continue to be there for her children and to slowly begin to get her life back on track. But most importantly, counselling has given Rebecca a sense of hope and motivation to move forward towards a brighter future.
“I’m starting to look forward, before I just got to the point I didn’t care. With the support, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I just don’t feel like I’m going to fall in a heap again.”