Media TAC Victoria: “Short Film Produced by TAC as a Mother’s Day Road Safety Message Featuring Karen Robinson”

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This week I was asked by TAC (Transport Accident Commission – Victoria) if I would be interested in talking about being a mother who has lost a son to road trauma and about what was it is like to be without him on mother’s day.  To also talk about my road safety message to the wider community.  Please find here above the short TAC film titled ‘Karen’s Story’ produced and used as a road safety message for Mother’s Day 2017.

 

 

© Karen Robinson – May 2017

Whilst you are here – please check out my home page!  Post-traumatic Growth – My Art Therapy JourneyA window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytellingby Karen Robinson

Poetry and Prose: “Feeling Vulnerable” written by Karen Robinson

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No. 1 of 5 Creative Writing - Poem Titled 'Crying Roses' written and photographed by Karen Robinson 5th November 2015.JPG

“Ben was killed in a single vehicle car crash on the 5th November, 2009. He was driving at 140 kilometers per hour, had 0.08 Blood-Alcohol-Content, hit a kangaroo, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into two trees at approximately 1am in the night. He was discovered dead by his motor vehicle by a fellow workmate a couple of hours after his death. Ben was aged 25 and died three weeks before his 26th birthday. Ben was a beautiful, loving young man but had a history of driving offenses that meant as his mother I feared the worst might happen, and it did. In memory of our dear son Ben, we wish you were still here with us today, you are missed by us all – everyday. All our love son….mum xxx”. Written by Karen Robinson NB: All images and written content is copyright protected..JPG

 

 

INTRODUCTION

This week I was asked by ABC 774 if I would like to do an interview with them about road safety and road trauma. To talk about the work that I myself and so many other people at Road Trauma Support Services do every day – in the hope that these efforts will save lives and reduce serious injury caused by road trauma.  The interview was directly in response to a dreadful car crash that had occurred just this week where a 15-year-old boy had been killed, two young girls critically injured and two others injured in a single car crash.  This below is the interview sound cloud produced by TAC Victoria with Raf Epstein – DRIVE Program ABC 774 featuring myself as the interviewee.

 

 

 

USING CREATIVE WRITING AS THERAPY

It is never easy talking about road safety and road trauma, especially when it directly relates to my son, about his sudden and tragic death caused by road trauma on the 5th November 2009.  Just before speaking with Raf Epstein I found myself pensive, and during the interview itself, I found my voice quivering uncontrollably.  Afterwards, that night I couldn’t sleep.  Based on these reactions I was experiencing – I decided to attend my scheduled Creative Writing Session with Judy Bird our facilitator.  This group of people whom have become friends over the years is where I shared a Prose Poem I wrote that very morning about how I was feeling about my radio interview experience.  I was very comforted by the fact that all understood that at anytime I publicly talk about my son Ben and my family’s road trauma story – there is a price that is exacted. I feel my prose poem as shown here below does help to convey that fact.  I am also conscious of the fact that many other parents that have experienced the loss a child through road trauma would possibly have similar feelings, thoughts and emotions.

 



 — Feeling Vulnerable —

 Why am I feeling this way?
 I've done this many times before.
 I have spoken about my son,
 and his tragedy,
 so many times before.
 
 Was it the statement 
 the father made,
 saying it was not a tragedy?
 Did that cut right through my heart?
 
 Here I am again - vulnerable.
 My grief and despair
 exposed like an open wound
 that will never heal.
 
 My voice quivers
 as I talk. It's hardly noticeable to others,
 I think, but for me it is loud
 and demanding of my attention. 
 It is uncontrollable.
 
 I state the facts.
 I talk of the families
 that will now be hurting.
 I am hurting.
 How can I make it stop?
 It will never stop.
 
 My son is no longer here.
 His death - sudden,
 violent and unnecessary.
 
 Here I am again - vulnerable.
 But it will pass until the next time
 my heart is torn open.
 
 – ο –


 
 Prose Poem by Karen Robinson © October 2016
 
 *Please click here 
 to read other Poetry & Prose written by Karen Robinson 
 
 

Ben James Robinson NB All images are protected by copyright laws

Ben James Robinson 16.11.83 to 5.11.2009  NB All images are protected by copyright laws

 

 

 CONCLUSION

Sharing my prose poem with the members of the Creative Writing Group, a safe space created by the facilitator, Judy Bird, very much ensured I was feeling well supported. It ensured I was OK and I was!  Creative writing for therapy at its best I feel…

 

 

© Karen Robinson – October 2016

Whilst you are here – please check out my home page!  Post-traumatic Growth – My Art Therapy JourneyA window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytellingby Karen Robinson

Media TAC Victoria: “Raf Epstein on ABC 774 Drive, road safety interview with Karen Robinson”

While you are here – please check out my home page!

 

 

This week I was asked by ABC 774 if I would like to do an interview with them about road safety and road trauma. To talk about the work that I myself and so many other people at Road Trauma Support Services do every day – in the hope that these efforts will save lives and reduce serious injury caused by road trauma.  The interview was directly in response to a dreadful car crash that had occurred just this week where a 15-year-old boy had been killed, two young girls critically injured and two others injured in a single car crash.  This above is the interview sound cloud produced by TAC Victoria with Raf Epstein – DRIVE Program ABC 774 featuring myself as the interviewee.

 

© Karen Robinson – October 2016

Whilst you are here – please check out my home page!  Post-traumatic Growth – My Art Therapy JourneyA window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytellingby Karen Robinson

Creative Writing – June 2016 “I Am Listening…” Poem by Karen Robinson

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Volunteer Speaking at a Road Trauma Awareness Seminar Melbourne Australia with RTSSV - Karen Robinson June 2016

Karen Robinson (me) Volunteer Speaking at a Road Trauma Awareness Seminar Melbourne Australia with Road Trauma Support Services Victoria – Karen Robinson June 2016

 

INTRODUCTION

Last night – Tuesday 14th June, 2016 at RTSSV’sRoad Trauma Awareness Seminar (RTAS) in Werribee as a RTAS Volunteer Speaker, I told my family’s, being husband’s and my daughter’s road trauma story about my son Ben – killed in a single vehicle car crash on the 5th November, 2009. Like many other RTAS volunteer speakers each month across the state of Victoria – Australia for Road Trauma Support Services Victoria (RTSSV), we share with repeat road traffic offenders our road trauma stories, in the hope that repeat road traffic offenders gain a greater understanding about how risky driver behaviour is deadly. That it only takes one careless action as a driver to cause death and serious injury which in turn can leave behind, a devastating ripple effect.

Talking to and with these RTAS participants about their risky driver behaviour, once again reaffirmed the importance of the volunteer work that we do. Sure, it’s not easy and sure why do it all – might be your question. But when I hear, like many other volunteers hear, what participants say at the end of the Road Trauma Awareness Seminars: about what they have learned in regard to road safety and road trauma; about what they had never understood beforehand about the ripple effect impact of road trauma on family, friends, workmates and the wider community; and about how hearing our personal road trauma stories, has got them re-thinking about their own risky driver behaviour – it becomes apparent that it is a very worthwhile task and for me is the hardest thing I do.

 

POEM INSPIRATION

I found myself wanting to write, needing to write and I wrote this short poem about my feelings relating to this week’s Road Trauma Awareness Seminar Volunteer speaking experience.  This is what I wrote…

 

Title:  “I Am Listening…” Prose Poem

 



Here I am, again, listening to their reasons why

and as I hear, I cannot help but sigh!

 


They talk about the daily risks they take

and my calm facial expression is all a fake

 


for I know if they continue on in this vein,

their lives will not be blessed by the ordained.

 


Their loved ones will end up mourning their loss

for their risk-taking comes at a massive cost.

 


The tears, heartache and emptiness of soul

will leave their loved ones with this only role.

 


And as for me, I am already there -

left without my son and left with great despair.



Prose Poem ©Karen Robinson, June 2016

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

Writing this poem helped me process my feelings and thoughts about what I heard, saw and experienced during my RTAS volunteer speaking this week.  At this particular RTA Seminar there was another whom had experienced the loss of a loved one through road trauma and he hadn’t spoken about his loss for over 20 years…  It was very sad and demonstrated just how important it is to reach out and share our feelings, thoughts and emotions in order to maintain a healthy sense of well-being.  My creative writing and art practice gives me a way to maintain my well-being and has become an important way for me to continue on moving forward with my post-traumatic growth journey.

 

Written by © Karen Robinson – June 2016

Whilst you are here – please check out my home page!  Post-traumatic Growth – My Art Therapy JourneyA window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytellingby Karen Robinson

Creative Writing – November 2015 “Paris…” Poem by Karen Robinson

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1 of 8 Creative Writing - Poem Titled 'Paris' and Schminchke & Liquitex Ink on Cotton A3 297x420mm 300GSM by Karen Robinson 17-11-2015 Copyright Protected.JPG

1 of 8 Creative Writing – Poem Titled ‘Paris’ and Schminchke & Liquitex Ink on Cotton A3 297x420mm 300GSM by Karen Robinson 17-11-2015 Copyright Protected.JPG

 

INTRODUCTION

The Paris multiple attacks where more than 120 people were killed and more than 350 people were injured with about 100 of those seriously – via a series of coordinated terrorist attacks, was shocking news.   The tragic loss of loved ones, family, friends and workmates must be unbearable for those directly impacted and for the people of France this needless atrocity must be impossible to fathom.

 

POEM INSPIRATION

The amazing resilience of the France people had inspired me to write this very short and simple poem.  I have also accompanied it with an ink painting I have created which represents the French flag colours and I have used the now iconic symbol being ‘Peace for Paris’ which has spread around the world.  I humbly and respectfully share my words here below.

 

Title:  “Paris…” Acrostic Poem

 



Peace we need to seek and search for in our every day,

Alliance with those that treasure humanity,

Resisting the temptation to run and hide,

Illuminating the courage of those who bravely step forward,

Silencing those who seek to crush...

 

Acrostic Poem ©Karen Robinson, November 2015

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

Peace for Paris – peace for the world…we must try…

 

Whilst you are here – please check out my home page!  My Art Therapy JourneyA window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytellingby Karen Robinson

Creative Writing – October 2015 “Crying Roses…” Poem by Karen Robinson

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No. 5 of 5 Creative Writing - Poem Titled 'Crying Roses' written and photographed by Karen Robinson 5th November 2015.JPG

No. 5 of 5 Creative Writing – Photo taken by Karen Robinson at Fawkner Memorial Park, Melbourne, Australia on the 5th November 2015. The rain drenched roses featured in the photo were used as a source of inspiration for a Poem Titled ‘Crying Roses…’ written by Karen Robinson to mark the 6th anniversary of her son’s death who was killed in a single vehicle car crash on the 5th November 2009.JPG

 

INTRODUCTION

It’s that time of the year again, a time that marks another year where my husband and I especially on this day, the 5th November 2015, take a drive to Fawkner Memorial Park to pay our respects to the memory of our son.  Over the last five years, each of these days have been strangely beautiful amongst the extraordinary array of fully bloomed roses.  Each year signifies, that our choice of Memorial Park to place our son’s ashes was the right choice, as it serves as our quiet place to think of Ben and how much we miss him so.  To ponder about, what it would have been like, if he was still here with us today!

 

NoNo. 1 of 5 Creative Writing - Mark & Karen's son's plaque which sits proudly over the cavity that holds his ashes at Fawkner Memorial Park, Melbourne, Australia on 5th November 2015 used as inspiration to write a Poem Titled 'Crying Roses' to mark the 6th anniversay of his death. Photographed by Karen Robinson - Ben's mum 5.11.15.JPG

No. 1 of 5 Creative Writing – Mark & Karen’s son’s plaque which sits proudly over the cavity that holds his ashes at Fawkner Memorial Park, Melbourne, Australia on 5th November 2015 used as inspiration to write a Poem Titled ‘Crying Roses’ to mark the 6th anniversary of his death. Photographed by Karen Robinson – Ben’s mum 5.11.15.JPG

 

POEM INSPIRATION

Upon our arrival at Fawkner Memorial Park, and as I was alighting from the car and walking across towards Ben’s Plaque and then through the wonderful array of fully bloomed roses, I was taken aback by the rain drenched roses.  I had never seen roses so full of water and one rose in particular looked like there were tears falling from its heart!  The rain drops appeared to me like it was crying…

 

No. 2 of 5 Creative Writing - Poem Titled 'Crying Roses' written and photographed by Karen Robinson 5th November 2015.JPG

No. 2 of 5 Creative Writing – Poem Titled ‘Crying Roses’ written and photographed by Karen Robinson 5th November 2015.JPG

 

I found myself saying out loud to my husband “Look, the roses look like they are crying…”.  It felt profound to make such a statement and perhaps it was just a reflection of how I felt in my own heart right at that particular moment.  On my return, I wrote the below poem to mark the 6th anniversary of my boy’s death.

 

Title:  “Crying Roses…” Poem

 


It’s raining and the roses look like they are crying.

Perhaps they know we are here amongst the ones

who were once dying.

 


Both my husband and I stop and sit in silence,

thinking about our loss and leaning on one another

with great reliance.

 


It’s been 6 years now since the passing of our son.

We often think why -- why did he have to be the one.

 

It’s now time to stand
and walk a little amongst the rain drenched roses,

and I seek my dear husband’s guidance to do some poses

 

for each year we make this pilgrimage to remember

and always on the 5th of November.

 

A coffee and cake we share

where conversation is mostly spare



then it’s back home and a chat with our daughter,

the one we now look towards, in our family, to be the mortar.

 

How precious she is to both of us

and our endless love for her will always be a must.

 

Poem © Karen Robinson - November 2015

 

PHOTO-TAKING IMPORTANT

Photo-taking has been what I have done most of my life, the recording of special family moments!  And I have always taken photos on these days.  I learned that taking photos is just so important, they serve the memory well when loved ones have passed, when the memory begins to fail and for further generations to ponder over and wonder…

 

 

CONCLUSION

It’s another day now and the sun has come out and dried up all the rain … time to go out and play, rejoice and enjoy the one and only life we get to live…

 

Whilst you are here – please check out my home page!  My Art Therapy JourneyA window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytellingby Karen Robinson