Beyond the Deluge
Kirsty and Quinton
Two people who arrived by accident chose to stay by commitment, turning preparedness into collective care.
You don't have to be in crisis to call.
Kirsty and Quinton arrived in Broke by accident. A young person they'd helped gave them a holiday as thanks, and during that break, Quinton found work in the vineyards. Four years later, they bought Starline, an alpaca farm stay where they could offer city families a chance to experience country life firsthand. What Kirsty didn't know then was that her own family had been among Broke's first settlers. She'd come home without planning to.
When heavy rain came in early July 2022, Kirsty felt something shift. She started preparing: fuel in the tanks, supplies ready, the property readied. Quinton's background in crisis work meant they both thought less about themselves and more about how to help. When the flood hit and families needed shelter, eight families moved into their off-grid cottages. The solar panels kept the lights on. Kirsty set up a daycare in their function centre so parents could deal with their losses. They washed endless loads of contaminated clothes. They provided firewood, hot showers, and a place to sleep.
Walking through Broke after the water receded was like moving through a war zone. Quinton waded into town to lock up neighbours' houses before looters could get in. Kirsty and Quinton saw families standing in front of their entire lives piled in the street, protecting ruined belongings from scavengers. They learned which neighbours would help without being asked, and which ones couldn't ask for help even when they needed it most. They learned that in a rural community, family means the land, the animals, the livelihoods, and the people next door. They learned that Broke doesn't give up.
Today, Kirsty and Quinton see a future for their town. They've helped set up a community resilience network and they're calling for better early warning systems that account for the time farmers need to save their animals and care for their neighbours. They're asking people to visit, to support local businesses still rebuilding, and to understand why they and so many others refuse to leave.
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