Helen

 

Helen

This may not be my normal sort of blog episode - but I want to write about Helen.

Our memories of her and a little bit about her life as she told us.  She’s a really remarkable woman who I just know my writings will not do justice to.  I hope it’s not too boring for you! 

We met Helen at Tathra back in mid March when she literally bounded around to our caravan door and introduced herself.  We invited her in and had a cuppa together … she was in a little van next to ours, she was by herself, had towed the van the 560 kms to Tathra (on the east coast) from her home in Upper Beaconsfield in Victoria and, over the years, had travelled far and wide.  She owns and works her farm by herself, her husband having died several years ago.  Nothing unusual in that you may think - except Helen is 72 years of age and at the age of 40 she was told she wouldn’t live to see her 45th birthday.  She has treated herself with herbs, natural remedies and colour therapy and the doctors really can’t explain how she‘s still alive! 

We spent a fair bit of time with Helen at Tathra then accidentally bumped into her again further on south at Malacoota when we saw her in a hotel having a meal.  We joined her and then walked her back to her van at the end of the evening.  She made us laugh when she couldn’t quite remember which site she was on and plodded through a huge muddy puddle - laughing her socks off as she went!  She had more life in her than Geoff and I put together!  When we said goodbye she gave us her address and phone number and said we were welcome to stay on her farm if ever we got stuck for somewhere to stay.  We promised we would be in touch. 

After our time at Phillip Island we had a few days before we were due to meet up with my cousin Geoff and Janelle in Healesville.  Helen’s place was just about an hour away from there, so we gave her a call and arranged to visit.  When we drove up the dirt track to her farm Geoff was awestruck!  The views and the whole aspect of the farm was totally amazing.  “I’m gonna love it here” is all he kept saying!

Helen has been through two devastating bush fires - the first one back in 1980 something, when she was the last one to leave the area alive, completely destroyed her home and the majority of her belongings.  She was able to rescue just a few of her family heirlooms.  Many of her neighbours were killed in the fires, there being 179 in total in the region who died.  When she returned to her completely burnt home - now just a pile of ashes, and devastated farm, she arranged for an old railway Guards Van to be delivered - that’s where she lived for 3 years while her house was re-built. She only had enough money to buy the stone and pay the stone mason - she did all the labouring herself.  She didn’t have any running water or electricity during that time.

Our van down by the Guards Carriage

In addition to the cottage being built, she had a 10,000 gallon concrete tank buried out front…..THE BUNKER!.  They’re not going to get me again she laugh’s… fitted out with all the furniture basics, and a stock of tinned food…running water… tv and radio… bless her …. (was that a bottle of brandy there?)…….

 

Narbathon

Helen's shed on Narbathon property

Recovering trees after bush fire

Two years ago another of her properties at Narbathon 60km’s north was burnt to the ground during bush fires, which were supposedly started by a local fireman would you credit!!.   Helen took us up to the property which is still in a sorry state.  But the trees, with the black, burnt trunks are starting to show signs of life again.  She has built a shed on the land and has started clearing the bush (with  local help) to make room for the new home she plans to build there.  Helen just loves the trees and the Australian bush and gets so excited to see the progress, and her beloved property coming back to life, albeit very very slowly.  

New Life

It’s impossible to imagine the feelings of total fear and helplessness as you see a fire raging towards you at 60kms per hour.  Where to go?  How to get out?  What can I take with me?  Will I survive?  … How do you ever get over that - I don’t know.

On top of all that,  two years ago her daughter died aged 45 under very sad and suspect circumstances - the police didn’t want to know, and recorded the death as suicide.  While we were there Helen was able to start going through some of her daughter’s belongings - something she hadn’t been able to do up to that point.  It’s a start. 

Helen has an absolutely wicked sense of humour - she certainly made a match for Geoff.  After our time in Healesville we returned to Helen’s farm for the Easter period.  We were able to help her out in small ways, and Geoff was able to sharpen tools, get her tractor working again, cut grass, fix gates, make a rake thing which could be attached to the back of her ride on lawn mower to collect the sticks and fallen stringy bark, and lots of other little jobs.  She was over the moon.  She loved the company, although she describes herself as a bit of a hermit, I think she enjoyed sharing and reminiscing about her life and family.    She took us to meet her sister and see their fantastic underground house (no bushfires will get them!) and rescued wallabies they care for. 

She reckons we were sent by God to help her.  I reckon She’s been an inspiration to us - she allowed us to be a part of her life for a short time, and shared with us in such a lovely open way that we will never ever forget our time with Helen.