ON the fourth anniversary of Black Saturday, survivors are on the “recovery from recovery” road, according to psychologist Rob Gordon.
Dr Gordon said until now people had been recovering by rebuilding their lives, but there had been no time to think about life, goals and relationships that existed before the fires.
“It is hard to reconnect to what was important before Black Saturday – it may seem too hard or not relevant,” he said.
“Is now the time to try and reach out, forgive and reconnect so that we get back what we had before Black Saturday?”
He said many people wanted time to themselves to get a “perspective on the experience, find out who you are, how you feel and what is important now”.
“We can call this stage ‘recovery from recovery’. It should be taken seriously.”
He said although many people expected things to return to normal by the fourth anniversary, it hadn’t for everyone.
Bushfire recovery committee chairman Larry Challis said a remembrance service would be held at the Whittlesea community garden in Laurel Street, Whittlesea on the February 7 anniversary at 7pm.
“Community members are encouraged to bring along personal tributes, drawings, candles and flowers,” he said.
A fun event in tribute to Penny Chambers, who lost her life in the fires at Kinglake, will be held at the Whittlesea Swimming Centre in Walnut Street, Whittlesea where she worked.
Penny’s Carnival will be held on Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
A Melbourne service will be held on the same day from 2pm to 4pm at the Treetops function room at the Melbourne Museum in Nicholson Street, Carlton, featuring music and artwork from bushfire-affected communities.
