Ex-tropical Syclone Debbie
by John Watkins I was there when ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie hit Collins Creek in March 2017, it wasn’t what
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Sharing Stories Strengthens Connections and Builds Communities
This is a collection of TRUE STORIES OF KYOGLE and district – people and place – contributed by community members. These stories may be personally significant, such as meeting a life partner, making a life changing decision, learning something about yourself or the world.
Or they may be stories of a notable event, for example someone famous visited, or a community event such as a Fairymount Festival. Flood, drought or fire perhaps?
Following a community-wide invitation, stories with a limit of 100 words were collected and installed in the Kyogle CBD during the week of the Kyogle Writers Festival. This was intended to provide an opportunity to tell local stories and contribute to the life of the writer’s festival.
It’s called I WAS (T)HERE because it may have happened up a creek somewhere. That’s the “there.” Or it may have happened in the main street. That’s the “here.”
Graeme Gibson
by John Watkins I was there when ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie hit Collins Creek in March 2017, it wasn’t what
by Bob Mills The landslip took out a pile of trees. Days of rain turned the slope to
by Christabel Strehle Border Ranges I was here in spirit when, as a reluctant schoolgirl, I drew 6×8 maps
by Margie Brace I squeezed the van into the muddy ditch and walked nervously up the gravel road.
by Kailyn Russ – Age 11, Urbenville Public School I WAS THERE when ashes rained down like rain
by Sandii Davie I was there when Kyogle Bazaar faced closure. In 2017 I was a stallholder for
by Shane Runciman We live in a region that is used to floods, but everyone knew this was
by Suzie Coulston I was there when Kyogle marched for Reconciliation on 28 May 2000. There were people
by Diane Hansen I parked my little Yaris in a middle lane space on the main street of
by Paul Daley I WAS (T)HERE in 1989. At sunrise the flood had reached the third London Plane
by Stan Munro Up until COVID arrived I had been doing regular charity shows to help local community
by Rikki Coulston I found community when I moved to Kyogle in 2017. I was introduced to a
by Uncle Andrew Johnston I was there in 1996, helping organise a Cross Cultural Awareness Festival in Kyogle. At
by Christabel Strehle Swampfrogs I am here and so are they! Swamp frogs make lusty proclamations from the
by Hunter Paget – Age 11, Urbenville Public School I WAS THERE when Lismore was flooding. I lost
by Graeme Gibson I was here when the Reflections of Kyogle and I WAS T(HERE) projects took place. Of
by Lynda Clark (Elsie Rose Mud Flap) An early memory as a three-year-old is of the record 1954
by Faith Sheargold – Age 10, Urbenville Public School I WAS THERE when KEITH URBAN live zoomed our
by Paul Daley I WAS (T)HERE in 1998, late October. The Lost World Wilderness. The heart of the
by Robyn Job In September 2016 I started as Coordinator for Kyogle’s Community Gym. A decade earlier I
by Ethan Russ – Age 8, Urbenville Public School I WAS THERE when Mr Sifko ran through the
by Barbara Murray We school kids that travelled on the little train had to wait until 5.30pm after
by Meg Bishop I was here at the meeting in 2016 when Good Ideas for Kyogle were presented.
By Eliza Scott Three years ago, I walked in the door of the school hall to attend choir
by Brendan Gibson The 1985 Kyogle Fairymount Festival was a great opportunity for the Kyogle Nuclear Disarmament Group.
by Zepha Shofay – Age 7, Urbenville Public School I WAS THERE in the early hours of the
by Barbara Murray I was here in Kyogle in the 50s. Several families lived in Groom St next
by Paul Daley I WAS (T)HERE in Kyogle in 2002. Half a lifetime ago. 16 years old out
by Gabby McGrath – Age 10, Urbenville Public School I WAS THERE, in the smoke-filled air, coughing and
by Graeme Gibson I was here when the ABC’s Backroads program came to town. The Lions Road, a
by Bec Tapscot We looked across a car park in Brisbane. Our eyes flashed, our stomachs jumped. We
by Joan Hayman In the 30-plus years that I have lived here, my town has been going through
by Liam Dau – Age 11, Urbenville Public School I WAS THERE when the shots rang out in
Kyogle Writers Festival acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land and waters on which we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
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