Community
29 January, 2025
Burke Shire's community champion a pillar of resilience
Kylie Camp was recognised for her long service to the Gulf community.
It's been a difficult two years for Kylie Camp, who was recognised on Australia Day with the Burke Shire Community Champion of the Year award.
But despite the floods, fires and family injury, she has remained resilient.
She told North West Weekly that she appreciated being recognised with the top honour handed out during Burke Shire’s Australia Day gathering on Sunday.
“You have got to take the bad times with the good times,” she said.
“You just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward – you have no choice.
“If the past two years have taught me anything, it is that life is for living and you just have to keep moving forward.”
The difficulties for the proud grandmother, who is also the wife of Burke Shire mayor Ernie Camp, began when more than two metres of water flooded her home on Floraville Station in the opening weeks of 2023.
The family was evacuated by boat, which had to travel more than seven kilometres across flood waters before they struck dry land.
It also happened to be Ernie’s birthday.
“My husband’s family has owned the property for about 60 years and they have never seen anything like that wet season – it was unprecedented,” she explained.
“We lost about 800 head of cattle and fences and roads and all sorts of infrastructure on the property. It was about $3 million or so in damage, and it will take at least a decade for us to recover financially – so all I can say is we love our bank manager.
“But the worst part was losing our wedding photos and our children’s old school books – things like those are irreplaceable.”
The Gulf community was hit further by a tough fire season followed by another damaging wet in 2024.
“It all just compounded our problems,” she said.
“Some in our community were badly impacted twice and it was really tough – when you are isolated in that situation all you have is your community, so you all band together.”
But the greatest challenge has been nursing her husband back to health after more than 20 per cent of his body was badly burnt in a farm accident last year.
Ernie was rushed out of the Gulf following a farm chemical spill and eventually required two rounds of skin grafts during a five-week stint in hospital in Brisbane.
“It’s been a bit of a journey, but Ernie is going really well now, living on a good diet of grass-fed beef,” she laughs.
Kylie is involved in a wide range of community development boards as well as health and education groups, including a long association with the Isolated Children and Parents’ Association.
She said small Outback communities reap the benefits when locals are willing to donate their time.
“I am very humbled (by the award), but it is also a very great feeling that your community sees that you are a community-minded person and want to show their appreciation,” she said.
“I always compare volunteering to Christmas – it is true that receiving a present is nice but the happiest you feel is when you give something special to someone else and you can see them enjoy it.
“Giving to your community makes me feel very happy and it is very special.”
Meanwhile, the Gregory Downs Jockey Club was also recognised by Burke Shire Council, receiving the Community Event of the Year award on Sunday.
The once-per-year race club was acknowledged for hosting the Melbourne Cup tour in August.
The event, which had just about every Gregory resident in attendance, was a huge hit.
