A June to Remember

A year ago, as we were in the throes of packing up our house to prepare for this trip, a massive storm hit Newcastle, followed by floods for days. Winter, lashing rain, grey for days.

A coal ship, the Pasha Bulker, washed up on the beach 10 minutes drive from our house, grounding on the sand - and remaining stuck there for more than a month.

It was primal, collective - as people lifted out of what they thought they were doing in their own worlds that weekend, to participate/help in this disaster. We thought we had my parents to visit, to help pack up: instead we, and 2 other neighbouring families, ate dinner at a neighbour's, who had an open fire and a gas stove - the power was gone for 12 hours that Saturday. And we all fared very well compared to much of Newcastle.

The local ABC Radio site is running some memory stories with lots of pics from 2007, having been THE source of information and support for everyone for DAYS, they just stayed on air, suspending all normal broadcasting. Amazing effort, which won them awards later last year.

And I was talking about it to someone here and promised one of my photos from then. BIG days they were.