Lorraine and Ken Bone spent three hours on a boat in the middle of Lake Conjola on New Year's Eve 2019 as bushfires raged around them.
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The Conjola Park couple described the scene as "like being in a 3D movie" as the inferno took hold.
When they finally returned to shore they discovered their house and belongings had been destroyed.
It's been a grueling long road to recovery for the couple and while there's been many people who've helped them along the way, they said one act of kindness in particular has had a big impact.
The couple was sponsored to attend Moving Beyond Trauma at Quest for Life in Bundanoon.
The Quest for Life Foundation provides educational self-help programs and community-based workshops that encourage, educate and empower people to improve their resilience and peace of mind during times of illness, depression, grief and trauma.
While they said they were a little apprehensive and intimidated at first, Ken and Lorraine credit the workshop with rekindling their zest for life and given them strategies to deal with negative events beyond their control.
"So many of us have huge mountains to climb in our daily lives, some more so than others," Lorraine said.
"Quest with Petrea at the helm, and all the wonderful staff, were able to put things into perspective, with one-on-one counselling sessions, the option of having massage, the presentation of scrumptious meals along with the venue itself in such beautiful surrounds, together, it all made us feel nurtured and protected.
"Best of all was learning the benefits of daily meditation which has given us a tool to help us find inner peace, become stronger and find pleasure in life once again.
"It truly such a special gift to have been given by a very special donor."
Quest's CEO and founder Petrea King said healing starts with the smallest glimmer of hope that things can get better but it has to be backed up with support.
"Hope has to have legs. It's not enough to hope that things will get better. We need to underpin that hope with education and support to bring our hopes into reality," she said.
"We remain at the forefront of a holistic approach to healing trauma, incorporating the latest research into our education. Our programs and workshops provide evidence-based tools and skills to help people embrace their challenges with a quiet mind and a resilient heart."
The charity is appealing to the public to donate to its annual appeal so it can continue to provide services to people and communities who are struggling with their mental or physical health.
Donate at Quest's Annual Appeal.
More than 125,000 people have attended residential programs or workshops and many thousands more, through Quest's online services.
- $25 provides a participant with a nourishing meal
- $50 provides a participant with a 1/2 hour massage
- $100 enables a participant to have counselling
- $500 provides a participant with accommodation
- $1000 provides a participant with accommodation and meals
- $1895 enables a participant to attend a residential program
- $5000 provides a one-day workshop delivered in communities affected by trauma
