Meet the beautiful eternal optimist Darlene Leeson. Mother to 6, always with a ready smile, and a great story to tell, always saving wildlife, moving snakes, caring for all creatures Great and Small, often jokingly referred to as the female 'Steve Irwin'.
On the weekend in the fires in Bindoon she lost everything.
On Nov 22nd on a facebook update she wrote:
"The fire has burnt my beautiful bus/home and all my
" treasures clothes n stuff" but all who I hold dear are safe and well".
She is coping remarkably well spiritually and emotionally but as a dearly loved member of Community we would like to be able to assist her with her process of 'rebuilding a new beginning when she is ready'.
She has a place to stay, but has lost all personal effects, all material objects, items, clothing , her home - the dearly beloved bus, that had been in their lives for many years, and recently became her home.
"It's like we have lost a family member. For so many years the bus has served as our family holiday home , where every Easter school hols we would pack it up and venture to the beach at Guilderton caravan park ... So many of the caravan park holiday kids have played, partied, laughed , joked , slept chilled out on hot dayz , warmed up and sheltered from rain on those wet camping dayz ,with children who once had to jump to touch the ceiling, able to proudly state that their heads now touch the ceiling as they stepped back into the bus each Easter .. With them swarming all over it familiarising themselves with "their holiday home " growing up with so many great memories .
This year It became my home with the change of my children's dad and my relationship .I have had such joy making it a beautiful home only bringing into it what I needed or treasured .Having simplified my life down to quality rather than quantity.
It has been such a blessing to have experienced life and times in this special bus,I will go on from this setback holding these memories as the precious times they were" .
Though inspirationally Darlene is taking the loss within her stride, as as a greater community wouldnt it be lovely to support her though this time, to raise some money to assist her with her next steps going forward?
"Letting all my friends know that I am going well.
Over the past 3 years I have really simplified my life, I only had in my bus all the material possessions that I used on a daily basis or that held a special place in my life . My daily life flowed between my kids home and their needs and my own little place of sanctury.
Yes I have and will grieve the loss of these things.tears have flowed as I keep being bought back to the reality that something I go to do/use is no longer within my world .
In my life I have found that along with the trials and tribulations there is always triumph and it is only the angle that you look at things on how good or bad they look.
One thing I do know is that along with the loss it is balanced by what I have gained, the deep appreciation that I am surrounded by loving friends who if I only ask they will help in any way they can...
I will rise from the ashes with greater appreciation of community, building a place that I can share with others, growing a food forest and vege gardens and building using sustainable methods ,creating a place of sanctury and sustenance for both people and animals alike .
So I am at peace with where my life is and looking forward to an even more beauty-filled future than the one I had envisioned ."
If you are touched by Darlene' s story, her tragic loss of all that she owned over the weekend & inspired by her strength and resiliency, please contribute what you can to assist her in her plight and share this with your greater community so we can help her in a much bigger way.
All funds will go directly to Darlene's Bank Account. So she can, when the time is right start to rebuild a foundation to which to live, heal and help others from.
In loving kindness
Mandi Nelson(for Darlene Leeson & family)
On the weekend in the fires in Bindoon she lost everything.
On Nov 22nd on a facebook update she wrote:
"The fire has burnt my beautiful bus/home and all my
" treasures clothes n stuff" but all who I hold dear are safe and well".
She is coping remarkably well spiritually and emotionally but as a dearly loved member of Community we would like to be able to assist her with her process of 'rebuilding a new beginning when she is ready'.
She has a place to stay, but has lost all personal effects, all material objects, items, clothing , her home - the dearly beloved bus, that had been in their lives for many years, and recently became her home.
"It's like we have lost a family member. For so many years the bus has served as our family holiday home , where every Easter school hols we would pack it up and venture to the beach at Guilderton caravan park ... So many of the caravan park holiday kids have played, partied, laughed , joked , slept chilled out on hot dayz , warmed up and sheltered from rain on those wet camping dayz ,with children who once had to jump to touch the ceiling, able to proudly state that their heads now touch the ceiling as they stepped back into the bus each Easter .. With them swarming all over it familiarising themselves with "their holiday home " growing up with so many great memories .
This year It became my home with the change of my children's dad and my relationship .I have had such joy making it a beautiful home only bringing into it what I needed or treasured .Having simplified my life down to quality rather than quantity.
It has been such a blessing to have experienced life and times in this special bus,I will go on from this setback holding these memories as the precious times they were" .
Though inspirationally Darlene is taking the loss within her stride, as as a greater community wouldnt it be lovely to support her though this time, to raise some money to assist her with her next steps going forward?
"Letting all my friends know that I am going well.
Over the past 3 years I have really simplified my life, I only had in my bus all the material possessions that I used on a daily basis or that held a special place in my life . My daily life flowed between my kids home and their needs and my own little place of sanctury.
Yes I have and will grieve the loss of these things.tears have flowed as I keep being bought back to the reality that something I go to do/use is no longer within my world .
In my life I have found that along with the trials and tribulations there is always triumph and it is only the angle that you look at things on how good or bad they look.
One thing I do know is that along with the loss it is balanced by what I have gained, the deep appreciation that I am surrounded by loving friends who if I only ask they will help in any way they can...
I will rise from the ashes with greater appreciation of community, building a place that I can share with others, growing a food forest and vege gardens and building using sustainable methods ,creating a place of sanctury and sustenance for both people and animals alike .
So I am at peace with where my life is and looking forward to an even more beauty-filled future than the one I had envisioned ."
If you are touched by Darlene' s story, her tragic loss of all that she owned over the weekend & inspired by her strength and resiliency, please contribute what you can to assist her in her plight and share this with your greater community so we can help her in a much bigger way.
All funds will go directly to Darlene's Bank Account. So she can, when the time is right start to rebuild a foundation to which to live, heal and help others from.
In loving kindness
Mandi Nelson(for Darlene Leeson & family)