On New Year’s Eve 2019, we fled from the bushfires in Conjola Park to the lake shore for safety. We were fortunate to be offered places in a boat to go out into the centre of the lake to escape the flames. It was like being in a 3-D movie watching the inferno take hold.

We stayed on the lake for 3 hours before being taken back to shore to witness the devastation, still fighting spot fires on our property with buckets of water from our small water tank as we had no water supply.

Our house and belongings were devastated and we’ve faced a gruelling 12 months to rebuild our lives.

Journey to Recovery

So many people deserve our thanks throughout our recovery since then. One very significant act of kindness was being sponsored to attend Moving Beyond Trauma at Quest for Life in Bundanoon.

We both felt a little apprehensive and also a little intimidated about what might eventuate. I can only say it has rekindled our zest for life and given me strategies to deal with negative events beyond our control.

So many of us have huge mountains to climb in our daily lives, some more so than others. Quest with Petrea at the helm, and all the wonderful staff, were able to put things into perspective, with one-on-one counselling sessions, the option of having massage, the presentation of scrumptious meals along with the venue itself in such beautiful surrounds, together, it all made us feel nurtured and protected.

Best of all was learning the benefits of daily meditation which has given us a tool to help us find inner peace, become stronger and find pleasure in life once again.

Truly such a special gift to have been given by a very special donor. Thank you so much.

— Lorraine & Ken share their story as part of Quest’s End of Financial Year Appeal.

Please DONATE to Quest’s EOFY Appeal and help people and communities to heal from trauma.