Beyond the Deluge
Carina Moonen · 34 min
Stranded at Warkworth without emergency services, Carina Moonen survived the 2022 Hunter Valley flood only because her husband was home — and the experience reshaped her sense of self, her marriage, and her place in the world.
If this story feels close to home
You don't have to be in crisis to call.
Carina Moonen lived in a heritage schoolhouse at Warkworth for over 20 years with her husband Leith, their son, and dogs. The river behind the property had flooded before, but never seriously. On July 5th, 2022, the worst flood in 70 years changed everything. Carina woke to Leith's warning, packed a bag with books and medication, and stepped into water above her knees. Within hours, floodwater breached the house. Everything underneath the bed, her son's baby book, photos, cards she had kept her entire life, prints of their deceased dog meant for tattoos, was destroyed by contaminated water. Two weeks in a camper trailer in winter left her with a stomach bug. Then came eight months of isolation on a remote hill property, separated from Leith, who worked all day and drove through rain and mud each evening to wheelbarrow food and supplies uphill so she could eat and stay warm.
What kept Carina alive was that Leith came. If he had been at work that morning, if he had been at a gig, she would have stayed in the house and waited on the bed for emergency services that never came. The isolation changed how she saw herself and their marriage. She learned she is mentally stronger than she believed, even in moments when she felt weak and useless. She discovered that you cannot do it alone, that you need a buddy and you have to keep that buddy close. A neighbour brought cash so she could buy food and clothes, breaking through her resistance to accepting help. When rain comes now, anxiety comes with it. But Carina also knows this: if a natural disaster cannot destroy a good marriage, nothing can. From the loss, she and Leith made lifelong friends.
⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses grief & loss, which some listeners may find distressing.
If you need support, you're not alone. Help is available: • Lifeline (24/7 crisis support): 13 11 14 · lifeline.org.au • GriefLine: 1300 845 745 · griefline.org.au
Every story here belongs to the person who lived it. They said yes to sharing it, and we sat with it carefully before it went up. Nothing here is exaggerated and nothing is used without permission. Read how we handle these stories ↗
Kintsugi Heroes · Registered Australian not-for-profit · kintsugiheroes.com.au ↗