Carina and her husband Leith were severely impacted by the 2022 flood but because they live at Warkworth, away from the main flood area and cut off by flooded roads, they were not assisted by emergency services.
“I was a little bit bitter that nobody had come, simply because if Leith hadn’t been here, I would not have left. I would have waited for someone to come and save me. The dog and I would have been on my bed because that’s the highest point and there was literally no one coming for us.
“In the future, I want them not to forget the little people. The alerts had come through Bulga, Broke, and Singleton. For some reason, I thought that because Warkworth wasn’t named, we must be OK. It’s a silly attitude, but it is what it is.”
Her husband Leith has also shared their story and both together offer us a devastating picture of their what they went through and it is still not over for them.
Carina’s story is raw and very honest but, like the other Kintsugi Heroes we have spoken to, she expressed her gratitude at the many acts of generosity and kindness from members of their community.
*****
We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Deluge and Kintsugi Heroes.
Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.
If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here – https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact
We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!
Warmly,
The Kintsugi Heroes team
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Theme Song: “Broken” by Colin Lillie
This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible in partnership with Singleton Neighbourhood Center with grant funding from the Hunter New England and Centre Primary Health Network.
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Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit Australian podcast network sharing real stories of resilience, disability, and transformation.
Named after the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — the philosophy that what’s been broken can become more beautiful for the mending — every episode honours the cracks, the rebuild, and the human underneath.
We believe every story matters. Every scar has something to say. And every person quietly finding their way through deserves to be heard.
🏷️ Topics we cover: resilience, disability, trauma recovery, mental health, transformation, lived experience, chronic illness, neurodiversity, grief, identity, community, caregiving, refugee stories, animal therapy, ageing, older Australians, wellbeing, invisible illness, inclusion, personal growth, hope, rebuilding, human connection, Australian stories
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– Kintsugi Heroes — real stories of resilience | hosted by John Milham
– Animals & Us | hosted by Natalie Stockdale
– Grit Diaries: from Grit to Grace | hosted by Simone Allan & Maryan Bova
– From There to Here | hosted by Emma Bellamy-Dodd
– Golden Threads — stories of disability & resilience | hosted by Dan Dougherty
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