In this final episode of Black Summer, we turn from devastation to renewal. As the ashes settle, ancient wisdom rises — the return of cultural fire. Indigenous firekeepers, once sidelined, are reclaiming the knowledge of cool burning — slow, deliberate fires that protect the land instead of destroying it. Their methods offer not nostalgia, but a blueprint for survival. The lesson of Black Summer is not just what was lost, but what can still be saved. Hope remains, flickering at the edges of the bush. If we listen, and act now, the land can learn to breathe again.https://firesticks.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Lessons from the Past
In the aftermath of the 2019 bushfires, one thing became painfully clear: we’d forgotten lessons we once knew. For tens of thousands of years, Indigenous communities practiced “cold burning” - small, low-intensity fires that cleaned the forest floor without scorching it. It kept fuel loads down, protected habitat, and maintained balance. But over generations, that knowledge was pushed aside by bureaucracy, fear, and a belief that nature should be left untouched. Then the fires came hot and fast, feeding on years of accumulated fuel. Now, Australia is slowly looking back and realising perhaps the old ways weren’t so primitive.If you would like to donate to a great cause supporting wildlife throughout Australia please visit:https://www.ifaw.org/au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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37:49
Best Laid Plans
When the Black Summer fires tore through Cobargo in 2019, the small New South Wales town was left in ruins. Homes, businesses, and entire livelihoods were lost overnight. As the flames closed in, residents faced the impossible choice — stay and defend, or flee into the smoke. Roads were cut off, communication collapsed, and desperate evacuations played out in chaos. This episode tells the story of those who escaped through walls of fire, those who stayed behind, and the community that refused to disappear. It’s a story of resilience, heartbreak, and the haunting silence that followed the blaze. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Firestorm
When the inferno tore through Cobargo in December 2019, it wasn’t just homes that burned — it was history, livelihoods, and the heart of a tight-knit rural town. In this episode, survivors recount the chaos of that morning: walls of flame devouring the main street, skies turning black at dawn, and the desperate fight to save what couldn’t be saved. From the volunteer firefighters who refused to leave to families who returned to nothing but ash, this is the story of a community brought to its knees — and the long road back. “Cobargo” is a raw, first-hand account of loss, resilience, and the human cost of Australia’s Black Summer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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It's Too Late
When the Black Summer fires tore through New South Wales in 2019, the town of Cobargo was hit hard. This episode captures the raw, firsthand accounts of residents who watched their homes, livelihoods, and community go up in flames. Through the voices of firefighters, farmers, and families, we hear what it was like to face an unstoppable inferno — the split-second decisions, the heartbreak, and the resilience that followed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Black Summer is a story of Australia.Through eight dramatic episodes you'll hear the true story of the 2019 Australian Bushfires like you've never heard before. Told by those who lived through these events.It's a story of tragedy, resilience and finally hope.New episodes weekly, Brevity+ Subscribers get AD free listening and early release. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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