Former local Cecile Bower lost her home in the Cobargo bushfires on December 31, seeking refuge Cecile returned to stay with her family in Young and was overwhelmed with the support and help that locals gave to her.
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This week Cecile has penned a letter thanking the local community for they had done for her during one of the hardest times imaginable.
"Thank you so much for offering me refuge after the fires," Cecile said.
"You welcomed me at my mother's place in the dirty jeans and Redback work boots I had thrown on ten days ago in the early hours of 31 December 2019 when the fires came for my home."
After losing everything and living through the horror of December 31 and January 1, Cecile drove to Young as soon as she could to stay with her mother.
"It was my good fortune that my mother lived in Young," Cecile said.
"As soon as they opened the Princes and Monaro Highway, we drove non-stop through smoke thicker than the worst fog, up over Brown Mountain, through Canberra, and on to you. We wanted to beat the fire before it closed up the roads again."
Cecile was so very grateful to locals who despite living through the drought that was gripping the region at the time welcomed her with open arms.
"Your shops were open even though no one was spending. You let me swim kilometres at the local pool," Cecile said.
"'Swim it out,' said the pool manager when I told him I was from Cobargo.
"You may have seen a mad woman jogging along looking neither left nor right with wet, messy hair, a towel over her shoulder wearing a cheap acrylic jumper with a teddy bear emblazoned on the front.
"I had to keep moving or I would fall apart."
Cecile slowly put together the pieces of her life with the help of local stores, hairdressers, St Vincent de Paul, Centerlink, medical services and support and the kindness of residents.
Cecile has since returned to Cobargo where she is working with the rest of her new community to put the town back to right, but she said if it wasn't for locals she wouldn't be where she is today.
Read Cecile's letter of thanks to Young below.
THANK YOU TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
Dear town of Young,
Thank you so much for offering me refuge after the fires.
You welcomed me at my mother's place in the dirty jeans and Redback work boots I had thrown on ten days ago in the early hours of 31 December 2019 when the fires came for my home.
I also wore an ugly but warm acrylic jumper with a knitted pattern of a Teddy bear and the name Ted. I got it from the Bermagui Anglicare Op shop.
They opened later that Sunday morning to help, as best they could, the 5000-of us fleeing the fires that were not far behind.
There were people of all ages, families with small children, pets and even car-portable livestock: guinea pigs, goats, chickens, and working dogs; all camped on the oval near the beach.
The dawn never came.
The skies stayed dark all day.
There was so much smoke blocking out the sun.
The force of the fire sent dense smoke into the atmosphere forming pyro-cumulonimbus clouds. Thunder and lightning struck the beach.
The power went down, the water supply was cut off and there was no mobile coverage.
Despite the fires threatening the small coastal village, it had turned cold.
We shivered from the temperature and the shock.
It was my good fortune that my mother lived in Young.
As soon as they opened the Princes and Monaro Highway, we drove non-stop through smoke thicker than the worst fog, up over Brown Mountain, through Canberra, and on to you. We wanted to beat the fire before it closed up the roads again.
You were also worn down by the force of nature. You were hot and dusty from drought.
But I could breathe easy and look at your blue skies.
Your shops were open even though no one was spending.
You let me swim kilometres at the local pool.
'Swim it out,' said the pool manager when I told him I was from Cobargo.
You may have seen a mad woman jogging along looking neither left nor right with wet, messy hair, a towel over her shoulder wearing a cheap acrylic jumper with a teddy bear emblazoned on the front.
I had to keep moving or I would fall apart.
I shopped at your quiet stores using my bushfire money to buy new underwear, a shirt, some work pants.
You discounted the shirt and slipped in a complimentary magazine to cheer me up.
You gave me consolatory gifts: a pamper pack, a beautiful hand-crafted scarf.
At the local café you exchanged pleasantries and let me feel part of the everyday world.
You cried when you heard my story at the Centrelink.
Your dedicated Vinnies volunteers, hearing my story on the local grapevine sought me out offering me support and financial assistance.
You provided me with compassionate medical services reviewing my physical and mental health, giving me new prescriptions and medications perished in the fires.
You organised counselling where I cried and cried and felt safe and heard.
You welcomed me into your town and your homes and started my resurrection.
I am forever grateful.
I am glad your rains have finally come.
Cecile Bower
Cobargo, NSW
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