Highlight comments on the After Yasi Blog Tour and Launch Day

On the interviews

As I was reading your article, I captured the essence of two creative spirits, who both connect with others through creative pursuit driven by personal initiative inspiring others through the work they do.

Two wonderful women, Mel and June – humble in the process of what they do yet worthy of so much praise-. xShirl (musician, songwriter)

More fantastic insights gained through skilful questioning. Brilliant idea about the comedy-style T-shirts and the use of humour to diffuse stress, done so expertly by David. A very Aussie (and Qld) type of response that many people will chuckle about for some time I should think! Thanks Jedda and June for a great pit-stop on the Blog-Hop journey

What an insightful and compassionate person you are June! Reading this interview allows us to share in your very personal journey in a unique way, just as After Yasi does. Great questions and very considered responses that should be inspirational to all.

- Matilda (author and ABC Open contributor)

I relate to June’s story years ago when I was younger, much younger we experienced a devastating cyclone in Bowen. The old building we sheltered in was on the top of hill as it blew down around us … we shuddered as each gust of wind hit the building for hours on end. . It was the longest day and most terrifying night of my life. .Fortunately central rooms held as we all huddled together. The next day the sun shone as the townsfolk picked up the pieces and fell off roofs while trying to repair then. Chaos continued for weeks after but we bonded and made new friends because of what we had shared and survived. . - Jocelyn (author)

Reminds me of my cyclone days back in Townsville as a child. But not n the least way as stressful to read about now June. GPigs LOL, good one David - Dimity

Such a remarkable book, June! Very inspirational and a testimony to the strength of the human spirit. - Jacqui (author)

Stories are as clear today as back then. A truly inspiring family - and some very cute guinea pigs too! -Melissa

Resilience, recovery and rebuilding a new life, the hallmarks of survivors. Congratulations on your book. - Noeleen

Thanks for sharing these tips on resilience in the aftermath of major weather events, June and Karen. June’s book is full of inspiration and heart-touching photos. I think it will encourage survivors and helpers. - Ali (student counsellor and author)

A tragic but heartwarming story of the total impact of a cyclone. As a Brisbanite I’ve never lived thru a cyclone, the closest is seeing the results of the recent mini cyclone storm that trashed my son’s unit at Moorooka. So I say to those survivors of Yasi, God bless you all, that’s as close as a human will get to hell. - Steve

Great to read how different people cope in the space of a disaster and how people need to be given grace afterwards in the recovery process. - Rebecca (author)

Your presentation of “After Yasi” is wonderful. Love the interview!! Good luck, June! - Carol (poet)

A fantastic post Alison! So useful, informative and sensible. So often we drag our ‘luggage’ aka offspring through our own emotional turmoil and angst forgetting their needs and comprehension of what is happening around them may be far removed from our own Thank you June for illustrating how to overcome certain trauma on every level and at all ages. - Dimity (author)

Thoughtful, caring review. Well done June and Ali. - Renee ( author)

Such a useful article, June and Charmaine. June talks about these issues with such compassion and serenity. A few major media outlets and a handful of rogue journos could learn a thing or two from her, I reckon! I love the documentary video featuring her son. Stay tuned to the blog hop to see it. - Ali (student counsellor and author)

This was an in depth interview which more fully introduced us to June. She has little snippets about herself in the book but I feel that I know her even better now!! Nice to meet both of you here and in this way! - Carol (poet)

Awesome advice June. You are a shining example of how documenting the story of others can also help in one's own recovery from natural disaster. You are an inspiration to me :-) - Heidi (Red Cross volunteer and fellow aftermath contributor)

Thanks for sharing this resource June. I wasn't in the region at the time of Yasi but was on Dunk Island over the weekend and saw its devastation first hand. I also think there's a power in community documentation of a traumatic event - and you've showed us why, and how to go about it. - Gemma Deavin (ABC Open producer)

On the launch

Such a wonderful event June Perkins just so impressed with everything you did here today. I was on the road most of the day but made it home to mission beach this afternoon. - Melinda (Aid worker and musician)

My friend, June Perkins launched her ebook today - this is a related clip about what my organisation did in 2011 during the aftermath of Cyclone Yasi. Robyn Good and Tiny Good were instrumental in getting our Operation Angel to its full potential. Along with other wonderful volunteers. Let's hope Australia has a 2015 free of major disasters. - Jacqueline (Operation Angel)

This is the tremendous launch of an ebook - Operation Angel will be included for our work in Far North Queensland following Cyclone Yasi. Very humbled to have been part of this effort.

- Jacqueline (Operation Angel)

Between checks-in here I have been dotting around the various links from the Joining Instructions on your blog.

Your soundcloud posting as well as being a really good performance is quite remarkable in a wider context - had I not known the backstory I would have taken the lines about roofs and insurance adjusters as a synecdoche-metaphor for all the turbulence and hassle in our lives. (And indeed the synecdoche-metaphor of the breathing as a form of calm to help rise above whatever turbulence does pertain as much as the literal fact of that beneficial therapy of the time.)

There is a big positive-from-negative here in the form of a work of art informed by life-lesson not so much learned (because you knew much of it anyway I think) as applied, and then re-applied the specific to inform the general. Yes such storytellers are indeed vital. - Danny (UK)