I was put on the phones in the central communication  phone line very soon after the earthquake. At first, we had  a lot of phone calls about missing people or urgent  requests to enter premises. Then the calls started to be  about demolitions and building work. Slowly the calls changed to people who were trying to cope with the  trauma and stress of what had happened.

It was such a chaotic time and we couldn’t help with  some requests. Newcastle was hurting and I would answer angry call after distressed call. I didn’t think  about it at the time but I was pretty young to be coping with the stress. 

I was on the phone line for about two and a half months  before council set up a special centre for people to come to  for all kinds of assistance.

It is great to see Tony Tamplin in the photo. He was a special  man and is missed.

I am still in local government but in Maitland now and am  a mum of two.