In the shadow of trauma

By Melissa Meehan
DESPITE being happy to have survived Black Saturday, many Steels Creek residents are feeling their plight has gone unnoticed.
Community crusader Dorothy Barber, well known for her efforts to bring a doctor to Yarra Glen, said many in the town were feeling annoyed that although more than 200 properties and 10 lives were lost they were being left in the shadows of Kinglake and Marysville.
“All the focus has been on Marysville and Kinglake but in fact we suffered huge losses proportionately,” she said.
“A lot of people in Yarra Glen feel a bit disgruntled.”
Dorothy said the impact the fires had on the area had not been recognised.
“It (the fires) have really fragmented the community – initially it brought people together but now it is more of a shared experience,” she said.
“I wouldn’t say it’s brought people together any more.”
Fellow Steels Creek resident Carolyn Kelmar agrees.
“The way the land is used in Steels Creek will be changed for ever,” Carolyn said.
“I would say 50 per cent of people have moved away which means new people will come in, and not necessarily use the land for farming.”
Kathy Andrews, also from Steels Creek, said problems in the area such as flooding and debris after the fires fell on deaf ears because the area was not considered to be as damaged as other areas such as Kinglake and Marysville.
“We just want someone to be aware that we are still suffering from the fires – a year on,” Kathy said.
“Trees are constantly falling, people have no idea what we put up with every day.”
But not all in Steels Creek are angry about the lack of attention.
One Mail reader, who asked not to be named, said the majority of Steels Creek residents were happy to be left in the shadows. “I really think most people in the community don’t want the attention,” he said.
“They are happy to go along minding their own business, privately rebuilding their lives.”
While divided over the coverage of their plight, Steels Creek residents have one thing in common, their shared experience and the decision to rebuild or move on.
Only time will tell what will happen to this devastated town.