Heartfelt plea for Kathleen and Goombaragin by the Bay.

Our dear friend Kathleen Cox is a first nations woman who lives in the Kimberley, Western Australia. She lives remote, off the grid, owns and has operated her business for over a decade in her small family community north of Broome. A passionate advocator for grassroots tourism, women in entrepreneurship, caring for country, and a stanch believer of anything is possible if one dares to dream, just go for it. Her small eco business provides accommodation, with a back to nature focus and a minimal footprint on the landscape.

On Thursday night 14th August 2025, a fierce out of control bushfire tore through the land and surrounded Goombaragin, crisping the land to the core, destroying some of what Kathleen has worked tirelessly to build over decades.

In just moments:

• the land

• her grey and blackwater recycle treatment plant

• water pipes from the bore to the water tank burnt

• shade over her safari tent filled with holes from the flying embers

• her shed including all her tools, equipment and building materials worth tens of thousands of dollars burnt to ash!

• And sadly, the birds and lizard numbers are drastically down.

Dreams are on pause, and the country she loves so deeply is left scarred. Yet through heartbreak and devastation, but with courage, Kathleen’s spirit remains unshaken. She did cry, her heart splat on the red earth, but she rose, dusted off the wild pindan dirt and is more than ever determined to rebuild, to restore her home, business and her community space, and to continue caring for the land that gives life to all of us.

Kathleen has prioritised the immediate jobs, and living remote can be quite costly, especially with the construction and replacement of all that was damaged and lost.

Kathleen cannot do this alone. She needs our help to rise from the ashes, to bring Goombaragin back to life, and to heal what the fire tried to take. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference - helping her replace what was so unfairly taken, rebuild her livelihood, and keep Goombaragin a place of healing and belonging. A place where we are all always welcomed to visit.

Kathleen recently won two awards from Maganda Makers. The Deadly Sisters Award – The Resilience Award and Business Pitching in recognition of Indigenous Women Action Takers. How befitting this is now. We know Kathleen can and will rise again. Her sheer strength of character is testament that everything is possible, she always believes and backs herself and others to this testament.

Please, if you are able, give what you can to assist a very special lady who always generously gives and continues to give so much of herself to help others without asking for anything in return.