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Beyond the Fires

A trip to Far East Gippsland

By Thomas Feng

September 27^th, 2021

1543 kilometres in 6 days. That was the itinerary as I headed out to Far East Gippsland in late 2020 for work, to support and meet young people leading community projects on bushfire recovery after the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires in Australia which made world-wide headlines.

12 months on and with bushfire recovery starting to take place after being stalled by the pandemic, I was honoured to meet some people and document some of their stories.

Mallacoota

Mallacoota was on the world stage as the navy rescued people who were stuck on the foreshore as the fire encroached by boat over a few days. But it was clear on the six hour drive into Mallacoota, that these fires had stretched for hundreds of kilometres. Burnt trees, hollow stumps and vines of regrowth were common sights for two hours before arriving. Having visited Mallacoota back in 2018, it was hard not to be shocked at the damage.

When we arrived, we went straight to the Sanctuary Mallacoota Youth Group. The Sanctuary Mallacoota was born out of the fires when the young people realised that bushfire recovery efforts didn't have a dedicated space for them. Founded by Brodie and Ashley, they have mobilised and organised a dedicated committee of young people to kick down barriers of bureaucracy and funding for the rights of young people in Far East Gippsland.

First they were able to find a dedicated youth hub space, then they fought to reinvigorate and redesign the run-down skate park, next they started an outdoor cinema, and just recently they've won funding for a dedicated youth worker for Mallacoota and Cann River, the region's first in decades.

Every week they run a bunch of different workshops, media skills on Wednesdays, woodworking in connection with Bega, local environmental clean-ups, an outdoor cinema and are part of organising local festivals for the community to come together.

When we spoke with Brodie, her determination, dedication and desire for a better future for young people in Mallacoota shone through. It was clear that Brodie and the young people's efforts to be included in community recovery were starting to be recognised, but their efforts also took a toll. It takes strength and courage to volunteer your time and energy to this beautiful space when you and the rest of the community haven't had a break since the tragedy.

I also spoke with Tom, a music producer and Collarts student living in Melbourne who came back in late 2019 to visit friends and family and after being stuck in town during the fires, decided to stay and support his family and local community.

Beyond the fires, young people are giving back to support their communities bounce back in new ways, and support future generations to continue that legacy.

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

On the way back to our accommodation we travelled the wrong way and as we crossed a bridge, the sky opened to a gargantuan, velvet expanse, with the lights reflecting on the water like a starry mirage.

Beyond the Fires

Orbost

The next day we drove 2 hours back towards Orbost near the Brodribb Conservation Reserve where we met a class of students who had created nesting boxes and shelters for native birds and small mammals. Orbost had been blanketed in smoke after being threatened by three separate fires.

I interviewed Dylan, a teenager who lost his home to the fires who said this was his way of giving back and supporting the local environment. He wanted to be hands-on involved and do what he could to support the land to regenerate.

Beyond the fires, young people are getting involved and putting their future in their own hands.

As we headed back onto the highway towards Mallacoota, we saw the expanse of the fires and what it had burnt through: a panoramic view of the power and devastation 11 months on. The trees which had hung on were now covered in regrowth, and it would be up to mother nature to see whether the regrowth would be enough to continue its life.

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Omeo

In the morning we headed straight to Bairnsdale, where I dropped off my colleague Katia off at the V-Line to head back to Melbourne, before I picked up two young people for a camp that my colleagues Derm and Leah were running in Falls Creek in the Victorian Alps.

From Bairnsdale to Falls Creek, we climbed up, down and around the Great Alpine Highway, winding around narrow hairpins across rolling hills before stopping in Omeo, a historic gold mining town.

We walked through town while in search for a restroom and stepped back in time to many gold-rush era buildings which had stood the test of time. The steep rolling hill of the main road also added to the period charm.

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Onwards we went on the Great Alpine Highway and the rolling hills turned into tall cliffs as I sliced the car down into the valley and back into the Alps. The further we drove, the narrower the roads became, and for 45 minutes our only other company were the harsh, arid, rusted golden canyons. But a sudden turn and the infamous Blue Duck Inn appeared, nestled between three river crossings, and a thriving gush of life.

Beyond the Fires

Falls Creek

When we finally made it atop Falls Creek, it was a surreal sense of relief. Post-snow season, the mountain is quiet; silent aside from a faint breeze billowing gently. For the first time in a long time, my whole body relaxed, the tension melting into a euphoric feeling of being present and grounded.

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

The next couple of days I spent with five amazing young people, alongside Derm and Leah facilitating, as a videographer documenting their projects to support bushfire recovery and animal welfare. To see young people realise their ideas and turn them into something concrete is a special feeling and a reminder of why I love working with young people.

Beyond the fires, young people are acting with urgency for a fairer future for everyone.

You can watch the short film below.

On the final morning at the crack of dawn, I drove a few young people who hadn't been to the lookout to watch the sun rise. As we drove along the Rocky Valley Lake bridge, the fog started to clear along the mountain and we jumped out to experience a golden morning. I forgot to charge my camera batteries and my film camera only had six shots left so I took my time and snapped the one photo.

Beyond the Fires

After being blanketed in gold, we drove to the lookout and walked down to a historic snow shelters. Along the way, you could see the devastation from the fires, except these fires happened back in 2003. The Mountain Snow Gums bide their time, but beyond the fires, they still stand tall and they will grow back again.

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

Beyond the Fires

And then it was time for the eight hour drive home. Four hours down the mountain, and then another four hours back to Melbourne from Bairnsdale.

I left on this trip feeling emotionally drained after moving house, enduring six months of lockdown, and disconnected from my own purpose of helping people see the good in humanity. Returning home, I felt proud of the young people and communities I met along the way. I was reminded of the innate resilience that people have to not only get through hard times, but to use hard times as a moment for positive change.

Beyond the fires and beyond this pandemic, we will remember the frontline workers who kept our communities safe, cherish the precious, finite moments we have with the ones we love, and we must do whatever it takes to give young people a fighting chance for a future they deserve.

Thank you to all of the young people, workers and communities for hosting me and sharing with me.

Love, Thomas

Beyond the Fires

© 2026 Thomas Feng

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