Anthony Winter and Brenton Jinks are highly experienced local tradies and community service co-ordinators who have worked for the South Australian Corrections Department for over 16 years. During the 2022-3 Murray River Floods they taught practical trade skills to prisoners, from the safe use of tools to teamwork. They helped participants gain confidence and experience that could support their future employment and rehabilitation.

They led crews in building and assembling flood defence barriers, such as Defence Cell levees working long days in tough conditions. Their local knowledge helped integrate the prisoner work gangs into broader emergency efforts, enabling a more unified response to the flood.

By fostering trust with locals and being approachable leaders, they helped change attitudes about prisoner involvement in public projects. Their personal connections reassured the community, opening doors for wider acceptance and meaningful collaboration.

They ensured jobs were completed to a high standard despite resource constraints and changing priorities throughout the flood response period.

With a focus on skill development, they offered prisoners hands-on training in trades like carpentry, landscaping, and machinery operation. These opportunities provided structure and a sense of achievement, supporting rehabilitation and personal growth.

After the floods, Anthony and Brenton and their team supported recovery efforts by removing debris, repairing local facilities, and supporting the most affected residents.

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We hope that you enjoyed this episode of River Murray Recovery Stories, brought to you by Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/con...

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

David has made the River Murray his home since 1989, forming a deep bond with the land and its dynamic environment.

Over 30 years, David’s involvement in the Mid-Murray region deepened, fuelled by his passion for roads and infrastructure.

Seven years ago, David returned to the Mid-Murray area, bringing his expertise to the council as Director of Infrastructure.

During the 2022 floods, David led the co-ordination of flood defence strategies and infrastructure maintenance for the community. Ensuring effective communication, he rallied his team and worked with local and state agencies to address evolving flood challenges.

David’s efforts extended beyond just logistics, fostering strong relationships with local residents and associations during and after the floods.

Even post-floods, David continues to lead ongoing recovery efforts, pushing for funding, and planning for future resilience in Mid-Murray.

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We hope that you enjoyed this episode of River Murray Recovery Stories, brought to you by Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/con...

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

Dr Rob Gordon is a psychotherapist who specialises in trauma caused by natural and other disasters. He has been a consultant to the Victorian government and the Red Cross for disasters since 1989.

In this podcast, Rob gives us a powerful and detailed explanation of the effects trauma resulting from disasters and describes strategies for healing. He is warm and compassionate, and his examples which all come from his experience over many years, illustrate the complexity of the human response to tragic events and explain why it can take many years to recover.

He explains the deep-seated reorganisation of people's lives as they face the loss of their homes and routines and, in some cases, their friends and family who cannot cope with the enormity of supporting them. And how the stress from the trauma creates tunnel vision as they have to deal with multiple challenges at once, including loss of identity.

As Rob points out the most crucial ingredient of healing from this type of trauma is to have personal contact with others, strong support and social networks.

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We hope that you enjoyed this episode of River Murray Recovery Stories, brought to you by Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/con...

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team