Last year I reluctantly started watching season 1 of the Australian series of ‘Alone’ – a reality TV show about 12 people competing to survive in the Tasmanian wilderness. It had been recommended by a good friend – but I still expected a trashy, over dramatized survivalist reality show. Within a few episodes, I was hooked.
The show is surprisingly beautiful – it’s very quiet – no dramatic voiceovers or tense music. The highlight was contestant Gina Chick, who at first came across as a bit ‘woo-woo’, but who quickly establishes herself as a serious contender. Her respect for the natural world helps her survive not just the physical hardship, but also the emotional challenge of being ‘alone’ with nature.
So when Gina Chick’s book came out last week, I snapped it up – a perfect beach read for a weekend away.
‘We are the Stars’ does not document Gina’s experiences on Alone. That story has already been told. It canvasses her life from childhood to now. From growing up a self-professed “weirdo” on the NSW South Coast - to wild days in the queer scene of Sydney in her 20s- to immersing herself in survivalist skills and living wild in her 30s.
If you know anything about Gina’s story, you will be bracing yourself towards the end of the book – which describes the devastating loss she experiences in her 40s that rocked her small family. But this section is written with a profound determination to document the joy and privilege of what it means to love, whilst not shying away from the devastating, but very human experience of losing what we most love and cherish.
For me, the most impactful part of the book outlines the very intentional and specific grief rituals that Gina drew on in the aftermath of this loss – which she did with a refusal to live in denial or shy away from the depths of emotional pain.
This all may sound a bit earnest, I can assure, it’s absolutely not. The book is funny, wild, and beautiful. It is joyful and life affirming. It reminds you to hold your little ones tight, and to support them to truly express themselves in a world that has lost its wildness.
And most of all, it makes you want to go outside and get your feet in the dirt, and your face in the sunshine. Which I did – promptly heading to the beach to spot sea creatures with my son - watching his delight at finding crabs under rocks and spotting fish in rockpools.
Claire and her son Tom, exploring the rockpools together.
Guest Reviewer: Claire Cahalan
Claire Cahalan is a Mum living in Adelaide on Kaurna Country. Claire has a passion for nature, social justice and empowering families, including their kids to be active participants in our democracy. Claire works as a Senior Policy Advisor and is an active volunteer leader with the South Australian Parents for Climate group and the Little Climate Heroes playgroup.