In the wake of the 2019 Cudlee Creek Bushfire, communities across the Adelaide Hills have carried with them not only the scars of loss, but also powerful stories of resilience, healing, and hope.
Thanks to funding from Preventative Health SA, Brukunga had the special opportunity to be part of a meaningful project led by regional photographer Darren Clements, whose passion for storytelling through imagery has long connected people across the Hills.
This project focuses on collecting photographic case studies and stories of resilience—a visual and emotional record of how individuals and communities are rebuilding their lives after the fires. More than just photos, these are snapshots of strength, courage, and quiet determination. They form part of a larger Mental Health and Wellbeing Toolkit being created to support and inspire bushfire-affected communities across South Australia.
As part of the Brukunga chapter of this project, local residents volunteered to step in front of the lens, sharing their personal journeys of recovery, regrowth, and reconnection with their land, families, and neighbours. These photos celebrate what it means to rise, to rebuild, and to rediscover joy after trauma.
“Feedback from communities identified that an important element of recovery is for people to hear stories of hope; stories of how communities collect and rally together to face recovery challenges; and how individuals find ways to process their experiences or forge a new future for themselves.”
We’re proud to showcase a selection of these powerful images here. Each photo tells a story—of families who stayed, of gardens re-sprouting from scorched soil, of shared cups of tea and quiet moments of reflection. Together, they offer a message that Brukunga is not only surviving, but thriving.
