Cobargo struggling with emotional aftermath of bushfires

The town of Cobargo is reeling after a reported suicide and a string of deaths of older locals­ revealed the depths of anguish in the community, months after the bushfires.

• Cobargo bushfire victims slam slow recovery
• Cobargo residents fear clean-up delay may be deadly

The town of Cobargo is reeling after a reported suicide and a string of deaths of older locals­ revealed the depths of anguish in the community, months after the bushfires.

The recent death of one local had rattled the tight-knit community, which lost two men from the same family in the bushfires.

The remains of a burnt-out property in Cobargo on January 16, 2020. Picture: AAP Image/James Gourley

“The rot is setting in,” electrician­ and farmer Shane Black said. “You see it out on jobs … it’s 24/7.”

Mr Black said he was starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel but just weeks ago he was getting 60 calls a day from other locals who just needed someone to talk to.

Farmers in the region say they’re fine on the surface but, as one put it, “after a few schooners you’d probably be in tears”. The problem is they haven’t been able to go to the pub or any community gathering due to coronavirus.

The remains of a burnt-out train carriage which used to be a cafe in Cobargo, on January 16, 2020. Picture: AAP Image/James Gourley

Lyn Parr said some notable old locals had passed away since the fires, too. “I think they feel there’s nothing to come back to,” she said. “Like it was the final straw.”

The town’s historic main drag is still in ruins, as the protracted­ clean-up only just gets under way.

Counsellors and chaplains have been a fixture­ in bushfire-hit towns as governments pledge funds to help them bounce back.

Relatives and friends at the funeral of local dairy farmers Patrick and Robert Salway, who died in the fires. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

New Resilience Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, speaking before the news of the deaths in Cobargo, said that the fires had been traumatic.

“The recovery journey for each individual, each family and each community is unique to them,” he said.

“Bushfires are indiscriminate. One house can be destroyed, while the one next to it can be left standing. That doesn’t mean one family is impacted and the other isn’t.

“This is a traumatic time for all of our bushfire survivors. And as Commissioner of Resilience NSW, I will stand with them.”

If you or anyone you know needs assistance, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.