The terrifying sound of exploding flames is often recalled by people who experienced the October 2013 Blue Mountains bushfires up close, but imagine facing that situation unable to hear.
The difficulty for the local deaf community in accessing the latest bushfire emergency updates was front of mind for experienced Auslan (Australian sign language) interpreter Rebecca Cramp when she first found out about the disaster unfolding in Winmalee, Yellow Rock and Mt Victoria.
What the Glenbrook resident did next set a new precedent in providing deaf people in NSW with access to the latest emergency updates.
And it's the main reason she was named 2015 Blue Mountains Citizen of the Year during a special ceremony at Glenbrook Public School hall on Australia Day.
"I just thought we have deaf people out there in Winmalee and wondered if they knew what was going on," Ms Cramp said.
"So I filmed myself interpreting [in Auslan] every bushfire update made by the RFS and then I'd put those on Facebook and YouTube and via email to members of the local deaf community.
"Straight away I got messages not just of thanks but of people passing on the information updates to other deaf people."
Those efforts - and backing from her employer SLC (Sign Language Communications) and Warrimoo RFS brigade - led her to getting support for Auslan interpreters being included in every televised RFS bushfire emergency live update across the state.
That was a first in NSW, breaking a barrier that was fought for many years.
It also resulted in Auslan interpreters being present at bushfire information public meetings held at three Blue Mountains RFS brigades.
"I was interpreting at an RFS information session at Blaxland where we had a strong turnout of 12 families from the deaf community, but there were some who couldn't attend so we filmed the briefing and uploaded it on You Tube," Ms Cramp said.
"We got a lot of positive feedback, even from Blue Mountains residents who aren't deaf, because it made them think about the local people who are."
Ms Cramp's commitment to improving communication access for the deaf has made her a sought-after Auslan interpreter since 2001 across many settings including health and hospitals, schools and universities and national conferences.
But the spark originated much earlier, when she was just four.
"I was watching a movie with my mum called The Miracle Worker which was a true story about the life of a deaf and blind woman called Helen Keller," Ms Cramp said.
"And I remember telling my mum that I wanted to help the deaf for a living.
"By the middle of high school I started to learn sign language and I met local deaf people who took me under their wing and taught me the language in the most organic way."
In a nice touch, deaf Blue Mountains residents close to Ms Cramp attended Monday's presentation held in Glenbrook Public School's hall and an Auslan interpretation service was available.
"I don't know who nominated me but I'm extremely grateful," Ms Cramp said.
"I didn't do any of it [the bushfire updates in Auslan] for fame or recognition - it's just what we do in the Blue Mountains, we help each other out."
Young achiever draws acclaim
Olivia Grivas was named 2015 Blue Mountains Young Citizen of the Year on Monday for her demonstration of community participation, advocacy for young people and international aid work.
The driven teenager has applied herself in many leadership roles including the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament as chairperson for environment and heritage and has been an active member of the Blue Mountains Youth Council, Western Sydney Youth Forum, council’s Waste and Resources Reference Group, Blackheath Growers Market and Blue Mountains Musical Society.
She also gave up her time to travel to Cambodia with World Challenge Team of Volunteers to help people with HIV/AIDS and children living at the New Hope orphanage.
Ms Grivas’ Australia Day honour continued a summer of good news and deserved success.
Last month the studious 18-year-old — who attended Blue Mountains Grammar School — received the top HSC mark in the state in geography, made the HSC Honour Roll and attained an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank of 99.75
