Phoenix and Ralph

As fires raged across the land, neighbours helped neighbours and prepared for what was to come. Afterwards, people did what they could for each other, grieving all that was lost. But nature is resilient, and people are kind and recovery gradually came about. Some people rebuilt their houses; others moved away. The birds returned, and eucalypts regrew. This book is an object of community memory, a lament for the human and natural losses caused by climate disasters like the Canberra firestorm of 2003 and the Australia-wide fires of the summer of 2019-2020. But it’s also a song of thanks to our tireless emergency workers and strong communities. It’s an homage to the magpies who returned to our suburbs with their glorious song. It’s a plea to act on climate change. And it’s a story of hope.