A Brave Little Step Forward
Building Resilience Together in Wanneroo
I wrote this a couple of months ago, before my Substack was live… it’s a little glimpse into the project that’s top of my mind right now… Reach out if you’d like to be involved or share your own story of community resilience with me.
Sometimes life pulls us into challenges that feel insurmountable. You might think, How could I, one small person, possibly make a difference in the face of such a vast and complex problem? Yet here you are, standing on the threshold of the unknown, unsure if you have the right tools to navigate what lies ahead.
For me, that threshold is the Resilient Together project, a two-year initiative to strengthen community networks in Wanneroo so people will be better prepared to respond to disasters, like bushfires and heatwaves. Six months in, I still feel ill-equipped to make a meaningful difference. My colleagues remind me we weren’t chosen for our expertise in bushfire preparation and recovery but for our understanding of how to nurture connections and grow community resilience.
Even so, the immensity of this task often leaves me feeling small, like a bird in a storm. It’s in moments like these that I turn to traditional tales, distilled over centuries into timeless maps of human experience. Stories can guide us through fear and uncertainty, offering insights into how we might navigate challenges with humility, courage, and creativity.
One story that has stayed with me is an ancient Jataka tale from India, which I’ve adapted into an Australian version I tell: The Brave Little Parrot.
The Story of the Brave Little Parrot
A lightning strike ignites a bushfire, sending flames racing through the forest. The animals flee, but one small parrot cannot bear to abandon her home and friends to destruction. She flies to the river, dips her wings in the water, and carries tiny drops back to the fire. Over and over, she repeats this futile act.
From high above, an eagle watches. “What a foolish little bird,” he scoffs. “Does she really think she can put out the fire with just a few drops of water?”
But the parrot persists, undeterred by the enormity of the task. Inspired by her courage, the other animals begin to help: the wombat digs burrows for shelter, the kangaroo carries water in her pouch, and the echidna digs furrows to slow the fire’s spread.
Moved by the parrot’s bravery, the eagle finally weeps tears of compassion, which rain down and extinguish the flames.
Image credit: Aleksandar Popovski, Unsplash
Lessons for Wanneroo
As I sit with this story, what strikes me most is the parrot’s decision to act, even in the face of impossible odds. She doesn’t know if her efforts will make a difference, but she does what she can, because turning away is not an option.
This feels deeply relevant to the work we’re doing in Wanneroo. Many community members believe bushfires won’t affect their homes, or assume that emergency services will take care of them if disaster strikes. But emergency professionals have told us otherwise: their resources are stretched too thin to reach everyone. When a crisis hits, it’s our connections—our neighbours, our networks—that determine how well we respond and recover.
The LA wildfires of January 2025 serve as a stark reminder of this reality. Homes in unexpected places were destroyed, and residents who thought they were safe found themselves unprepared. As climate change accelerates, these events will become more frequent and severe. The question is not whether we’ll face such challenges, but how we’ll meet them.
How Communities Can Act
For me, the parrot’s story shows that resilience isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about taking the first step, no matter how small. It’s about recognizing that every contribution matters, especially when it’s part of a collective effort.
In Wanneroo, resilience might start with something as simple as getting to know your neighbours. Maybe your street already has a WhatsApp group where you can check in during emergencies. Or maybe this is the moment to start one. Perhaps you can organize a conversation with your neighbours about who might need extra help during a heatwave or bushfire season.
The shape of resilience will look different in every neighbourhood, but at its heart is the same truth: we’re stronger together.
The Power of Stories
As a Community Story Weaver, I’ve witnessed how sharing stories can transform a room. Stories connect us, help us make sense of the world, and illuminate paths forward when we feel uncertain. In our workshops, we draw on storytelling, gift discovery, and living systems thinking to help community members uncover their unique strengths and weave them into the fabric of their neighbourhoods.
One participant in a recent workshop for community volunteers shared how hearing a traditional tale helped her rediscover her purpose when she was on the verge of giving up. A particular moment in the story inspired her to approach her community work with greater vulnerability and authenticity, renewing her energy and reminding her of the "why" behind her efforts.
Often, hearing another’s story allows us to see our own lives more clearly. It gives us courage, helps us find meaning, and reveals possibilities we might not have noticed before. When shared within a community, stories have the power to not only heal individuals but also spark collective action.
An Invitation to Join Us
Over the next 18 months, Resilient Together Wanneroo will bring community members together to explore what resilience means for their neighbourhoods. This isn’t about experts handing out instructions; it’s about creating spaces for shared stories, ideas, and actions to emerge.
We invite you to:
Join a workshop: Learn how storytelling and connection can transform your community.
Reach out to your neighbours: Start a conversation or create a simple system to stay in touch.
Share your story: What inspires you? What gifts do you have to offer?
Like the parrot, we may feel small in the face of these challenges. But as the story shows, small acts of courage and connection can lead to miracles. Together, we can create a resilient Wanneroo—one drop of water, one story, one neighbour at a time.
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King
Let’s take the first step together.