Ep 4: When things go wrong ...

Things are looking up, it’s not long until the Uden family will be reunited … and then…there’s a serious engine room fire.


“The audio recorder is burning a hole in my pocket, and I feel like I need to do a debrief about what's taken place, but I'm sort of not sure where to start. I don't really know what to convey...” Shaun’s voice is stilted and unsure, against the backdrop of the ship creaking and rolling in the swell.


Shaun and his closest friends on the ship, Jaimie and Adam, share their recollections about what was one of the most frightening days of their lives and confide in each other their fears for the days ahead.


“You have lots of things running through your mind, but immediately I was going through my little evacuation plan and what I needed to get”, says Shaun.


Back home, Lori’s mind whirls with fear. She’s not sure what to do or who to talk to when neighbours, Vicki who was a military spouse and Rhonda who survived Cyclone Tracy, call by for a cup of tea.


In the end it’s the comfort of these older women along with advice from Nepalese friends Nitesh and Silpi whose wisdom, care and experience give her strength and resilience when all she can do is wait.

Contributors to Ep4: Jaimie Cleeland, Adam Leatherbarrow, Nitesh Raj Pant, Silpi Dhungana Pant, Vicki Allen and Rhonda Jones

Host and executive producer: Lori Uden
Co-producers: Cinnamon Nippard and Lori Uden
Interviews and sound recordings: Shaun and Lori Uden

The kids!  10-year old Matilda Uden and 9-year old Saxon Uden

Editor: Cinnamon Nippard
Mixer: Hamish Robertson
Music producer: Serina Pech
Online producer: Lori uden
Graphic designer: Kelly Walsh
Photographer: Helen Orr, Adam Leatherbarrow & Shaun Uden
Mentor: Johanna Bell
Critical listeners: Johanna Bell and Jess Ong


From Afar was created on beautiful Larrakia land and was produced with funding support from the Northern Territory Government through Arts NT


Thanks also goes to the Australian Antarctic Division and Maritime Construction Services for their support.

'When things for wrong...' is the fourth episode of From Afar, a 5-part podcast exploring long distance love, from tropical Darwin to icy Antarctica.