For many Australians, 2020 has been the worst year in living memory. First bushfires and now a pandemic. Covid 19 has taken our attention away from the destruction of the bushfires. Many victims are still homeless with little money filtering through across all bushfire zones. From the Prime Minister of Australia and all the way down to the RFS chiefs, many had a hand in this disaster.

For all of us who lost our houses, who suffered the trauma, who got badly burnt, and on behalf of those who sadly perished, we want our stories heard, so this can never happen again.

Using their art as a pathway to recovery following the New Years Eve bushfires which killed two people and destroyed 114 homes in the area, 5 local artists tell the story of that horror night, and their steps to healing and peace for themselves, and for their community.

‘We are Conjola’ is a story of survival. Told by those who were there with footage that shows fire like it has never been seen before. But it also puts a value on how important art is to community.

We want the world to become aware of the politics that caused the bushfires on NYE. It is time to stop making short term financial decisions and start making long term environmental ones.

For fire fighting organisations to look at alternatives to back burning such as ancient indigenous ways of hazard reduction.

We hope that volunteers fire fighters will receive proper training and wage.

For governments to value artists and properly support their craft.

A historical documentation of events, told by locals for government, fire authorities and council to learn from.