The Good People Of Nerriga

Now Available

 

 

COMMUNITY SPIRIT SHOWS ITS HEART

Bushfire survivors tell the story of the Black Summer fires in an original locally produced
half-hour radio documentary, THE GOOD PEOPLE OF NERRIGA.

The documentary, the first of a planned series of six stories from award winning filmmaker
Clare Young and community producer Rose Ricketson,
will premiere on Braidwood Community Radio 88.9 FM at 5pm 17/10/20/.

THE GOOD PEOPLE OF NERRIGA centres on the experience of Phil and Sarah Smith, whose
pub, the Nerriga Hotel, became a refuge for a town in crisis. The documentary is comprised
of the voices of more than thirty bushfires survivors, who tell of the story of how the
community sheltered at the pub, as fire fighters battled the blaze when the firestorm hit
their isolated village on 21st of December 2019.

“It’s been exciting to work locally with Braidwood FM to create this story. Gordon Waters,
from the inception of the idea, encouraged us to develop an original voice and style for the
pilot. The Nerriga Community have an authentic edge and a lot of heart, so it’s been an
honour to weave their voices into this story” says Young. THE GOOD PEOPLE OF NERRIGA
will premiere at a private community event at the Nerriga Pub hosted by the QPRC Bushfire
Recovery team where Braidwood FM will broadcast live. Braidwood FM Station Manager Gordon
Waters says “There are so many unique and heart wrenching stories out there and they all
need to be told. This is a personal way for these stories to be passed on.”

The full oral histories recorded for the production will be hosted at the Nerriga Museum and
Braidwood Historical Society. The documentary was funded by the Braidwood Community
Bank, Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council and the Braidwood Help Fund. Further
episodes will focus on the human stories from other bushfire-affected towns in the region,
with the aim of using storytelling as a tool for healing and community regeneration.

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:
GORDON WATERS, STATION MANAGER – BRAIDWOOD FM – 0422 921 269
PHIL AND SARAH SMITH, PUBLICANS – NERRIGA HOTEL (02) 4845 9120
CLARE YOUNG, CREATOR/DIRECTOR – 0409 778 278
ROSE RICKETSON, PRODUCER – 0449 187 430

Photos by ASHA KIDD

 

 

Speeches & Interviews from the Podcast Launch