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Making Sense of Disaster - Identity Challenges from a Bushfire

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Making Sense of Disaster - Identity Challenges from a Bushfire Making Sense of Disaster - Identity Challenges from a Bushfire Susan Slowikowski A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Humanities and Languages Faculty of Arts & Social Science May 2017 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/DissertationSheet Surname or Family name: Slowikowski First name: Susan Other name/s: Jennifer Abbreviation fordegree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: School of Humanities and Languages Faculty: Faculty of Arts & Social Science Title: Making sense of disaster - identity challenges from a bushfire Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) In Australia, bushfire accounts foralmost one-fifth ofproperty loss fromnatural disasters. In a country ravaged by bushfire, stories ofwidespread destruction are shared every summer. Bushfire is a constant and ongoing part ofAustralian history, identity and culture, causing extensive loss to personal property, public infrastructureand the natural environment. Research into how individuals create meaning frombushfire may provide insight into how these experiences shape resilience. This research aims to contribute to the emerging body of sensemaking literature by proposing a conceptual framework to address how memory curation influences sensemaking froma bushfiredisaster. The study also reflects on how identity shapes and is shaped by meaning creation processes over time. The research has developed a multifacetedunderstanding ofhow individuals create meaning fromtheir experiences in a natural disaster, and specifically the 2003 Canberra Bushfires. First, meanings derived from the memory curation process and shared through personal narratives, use language devices including metaphorical or emotive expressions and sensory images. Second, sensemaking is a natural progression in the memory curation process because meaning is constituted within these shared narratives. Sensemaking is a reflectionof how we interpret our experiences, but extends beyond finding an answer to why a particular event happened or how it unfoldedin the way it did. The process also embodies meanings derived fromlife experience, accumulated knowledge, materialism, social networks and our shiftingpositions taken as life priorities evolve. A further insight is identificationof the salience ofidentity- not just as a property ofsensemaking, but also as a driver that connects the memory curation and sensemaking processes. This research reveals how the transient nature of identity and the multiplicity ofpositions an individual may adopt manifest into two distinctive identity types - that of victim and survivor. This research not only theorises the interrelationship between memory curation, sensemaking and identity concepts, but also develops a frameworkto explain how the identities ofvictim and survivor may be the by-product of sensemaking. The frameworkalso contributes to pedagogical approaches on how to build community structure followinga natural disaster to ensure a cohesive recovery effort. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only) . .........3. .. S..�.1.��........ ..�:...... .�.!.7:/.1.1. Signature Witness Signature Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: ORIGINALITY STATEMENT 'I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.' COPYRIGHT STATEMENT 'I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT 'I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.' Acknowledgements Thank you, Professor Judith Motion for your patient supervision throughout my six year PhD candidature. I appreciate your professional advice and guidance in my major research project. Thank you for finding time to read several drafts of my thesis chapters during you own busy academic life and for giving such timely and helpful feedback on all aspects of my work. You have modelled commitment to excellence in scholarship and I have learnt a lot from your many years of experience. Thank you also to Dr Paul Munro, my co-supervisor, who came on board to help in the final stages of my PhD journey, providing advice on framing arguments and formatting structure to ensure a well-prepared and thoughtful thesis. A special thanks to the participants in my study – residents and firefighters from the 2003 Canberra Bushfires. You willingly entrusted me with your heroic and tragic memories from this extraordinary event. It was a pleasure to get to know all of you. I would also like to express appreciation to my work colleague Lois Burgess, who gladly read through my entire thesis. This gave me confidence I was ready to finally submit. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my family. Thank you for your support and patience throughout this long research project. ii Abstract Making Sense of Disaster - Identity Challenges from a Bushfire In Australia, bushfire accounts for almost one-fifth of property loss from natural disasters. In a country ravaged by bushfire, stories of widespread destruction are shared every summer. Bushfire is a constant and ongoing part of Australian history, identity and culture, causing extensive loss to personal property, public infrastructure and the natural environment. Research into how individuals create meaning from bushfire may provide insight into how these experiences shape resilience. This research aims to contribute to the emerging body of sensemaking literature by proposing a conceptual framework to address how memory curation influences sensemaking from a bushfire disaster. The study also reflects on how identity shapes and is shaped by meaning creation processes over time. The research has developed a multifaceted understanding of how individuals create meaning from their experiences in a natural disaster, and specifically the 2003 Canberra Bushfires. First, meanings derived from the memory curation process and shared through personal narratives, use language devices including metaphorical or emotive expressions and sensory images. Second, sensemaking is a natural progression in the memory curation process because meaning is constituted within these shared narratives. Sensemaking is a reflection of how we interpret our experiences, but extends beyond finding an answer to why a particular event happened or how it unfolded in the way it did. The process also embodies meanings derived from life experience, accumulated knowledge, materialism, social networks and our shifting positions taken as life priorities evolve. A further insight is identification of the salience of identity – not just as a property of sensemaking, but also as a driver that connects the memory curation and sensemaking processes. This research reveals how the transient nature of identity and the multiplicity of positions an individual may adopt manifest into two distinctive identity types – that
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