It was an Australian summer like no other. Record-breaking temperatures and years of severe drought fuelled a series of bushfires that burnt across the country. The major fires peaked during December 2019 and January 2020 and East Gippsland was hit hard. Throughout Victoria, people started ‘paying it forward’ and doing what they could to help others in need. And many heroes emerged. Heroes of Black Summer is a brand new picture book illustrating some of the heroic, brave and kind actions of Australian people during the 2019-20 bushfire season. Each mini story captures a real life experience of the harrowing events from individuals and families living in the East Gippsland region. The book provides fire-affected communities with a tool to manage stress, anxiety and depression to support healing and recovery, and is also a great resource to actively engage with the community to gather and share their stories.