Expert to tackle trauma with Scotsburn fire victims

The clinical psychologist has been dealing with victims of natural disasters for over 30 years, beginning his work back in 1983 after the disastrous Ash Wednesday fires.

On Wednesday evening Dr Gordon will speak to the victims of the Scotsburn fire at the Buninyong Town Hall about dealing with the stresses and trauma which often follow a major natural disaster.

Dr Gordon said it was important after a major disaster that people remained engaged with the community.

“This is not a matter of just slowly and steadily getting better,” Dr Gordon said. 

“It may take people days, weeks or even months before the full significance of what happened hits them.  

“It’s often around the six month mark, when it starts to get cold.”

The fires which hit on the weekend before Christmas destroyed 12 homes and over 40 sheds and scorched over 4000 hectares of land across the Scotsburn, Elaine, Clarendon, Mount Mercer and Durham Lead areas.

A plethora of donations have been lodged in the wake of the blaze, with collection centres at the Buninyong Anglican Church and the Buninyong Town Hall being overwhelmed by the volume of food and clothing.

Dr Gordon said it was equally important to ensure people affected by the fire were supported well into the future.

“It’s about listening and observing when they will need help.”

People will be able to ask Dr Gordon questions about his experiences, before attending a community barbecue which will follow the presentation.

Dr Gordon said it was also important to acknowledge others who were not directly affected by the fires may also experience a level of trauma.

“There may be people whose houses were on the edge whose houses wern’t burnt out of luck.  They may simply know and care about people who were devastated.”

Moorabool Shire mayor Allan Comrie said it was important the community did not forget about the victims of the fire in the coming months.

“It’s very important because they need somebody just to listen to them.”