When the Universe Listens

My Incredible Support Network

It's been a very strange ride the first few weeks of 2008. Having my car stolen and incinerated was simply awful but nevertheless, I went ahead with a much planned and longed for holiday in Melbourne over the Australia Day long weekend. I'm so glad I did, it was only a four day break but apart from not getting enough sleep, I've come back invigorated.

That's largely because of you folks. I can't thank all of you enough for your beautiful messages and offers of assistance from around the planet as well as in Australia. Brief examples; my dear friend Mark who I've known since school offered so much (as he always has) all the way from Broome, and Kerrie from Melbourne who I only met at a workshop last year but has a gentle, giving heart bigger than the state of Victoria.

What Goes Around, Comes Around

The day I got back from Melbourne (within an hour of getting off the plane in fact) I got a phone call from a nice-sounding fellow who said he was from Tasmania Police. Had I heard of the project U-Turn? Yes I had, U-Turn is a very comprehensive diversionary program which supports young people and trains them in automotive competencies. Each course rebuilds a donated car in their 10-weeks of training and the car is then passed on to someone in the community. He'd seen a copy of an article in the Mercury about my plight and wanted to meet to discuss my situation. Imagine my shock when he suggested that I be the recipient of this course's rebuilt car!!!!!

I still can't quite believe it but I like to think it's the combined effort of all your positive thoughts - thank you all so much!

Love to you all,

Debra

PS: Gig news for Victoria in the next day or so and I'll post a review & some pics of Melbourne Big Day Out.

Lightning Does Strike Twice

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to you all to let you know how my year's started. Many of you will remember that my car was stolen about 18 months ago (just after my guitar was taken) and dumped a couple of blocks away when it ran out of petrol. I was lucky that time, not too much damage and I got the car back. I remember the police saying to me at the time it's unlikely it'd happen again.

Well, it seems that lightning does strike twice.

Some time on Friday night or Saturday morning (11th or 12th January) my little Astra (affectionately known as TaCar) was taken from the corner of Church and Warwick St, driven to Claremont and then torched. It seems that car theives all watch CSI these days and want to get rid of DNA evidence.

Being a working musician it means I'll have to put plans to go to Launceston and Burnie on hold a while longer and of course, I didn't have car insurance - on my income there's no way I could afford it so I have no means of recovering financially either.

But as a person dealing with a permanent back problem, I'm afraid it's got much bigger ramifications and will seriously restrict my mobility and independence long term. Luckily I live close to town and at present I can get around (albeit slowly) with my chic Melbourne shopping trolley. The police have told me bluntly that mine was one of many cars stolen that weekend and there is no state assistance available through the courts or otherwise.

I'm posting this to highlight not only my plight but those who are worse off than me, who live out of town, don't have as strong support networks, who maybe aren't as verbal as I am.

Anyway, I feel quite heart-broken, I loved my little car and the independence it gave me. I've already had to pass up a job as I can't get to it on public transport and that's really depressing.

Any suggestions? If any of you know of any ultra cheap cars in Hobart please contact me

Take care one and all