Real life stories shared on film

THERE was not a single dry eye in the Mareeba Shire Council chambers last week during the premiere of the “Stories of Jasper” documentary.

To shed light on the impact of Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the associated flooding on the Mareeba Shire community and individuals, Mareeba Shire Council produced the documentary series that shared the stories of seven local individuals who were impacted by the weather events.

“Behind every flood statistic lies a human story and council went out to our community to document these stories early this year,” Mayor Angela Toppin said.

“Through “Stories of Jasper” we aim to document the experiences, foster empathy and understanding, and create opportunities for meaningful conversations about resilience and community action.

“It is our hope that this series will help residents to prepare for the unexpected and to restore hope where it might be lost.”

The series is now available to view on council’s website and social media channels.

Audiences can expect stories from residents residing in the Mt Molloy, Julatten, Biboohra, Mareeba and Kuranda areas.

“I would like to thank our residents who showed strength and resilience during the response and recovery of cyclone Jasper. I am very proud of the organisations, volunteers and neighbours who helped their fellow community members through one of our most difficult natural disasters,” Mayor Toppin said.

For more information about “Stories of Jasper”, including raw documentaries, visit www.msc.qld.gov.au.

The video series was filmed and produced by Zoe Maree Media and Mareeba Shire Council with assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

If you or anyone you know requires wellbeing support following recent weather events, please reach out to the following agencies:

• Mareeba Community Centre (07 4092 1948) and Kuranda Neighbourhood Centre (07 4093 8933) – for local support

• Red Cross – for practical support, psychosocial and well-being needs

• Lifeline Virtual Hub – dedicated support for people suffering emotional stress following Cyclone Jasper

• Community Recovery Support Services FNQ

• Rural Health Connect – Psychology Services

Visit the dedicated Disaster Support webpage on Council’s website www.msc.qld.gov.au/community/emergencies-disasters/disaster-support/ for further information.