Mandy Black is working with local community groups on events following the bushfires.By Kath Gannaway
LOCAL community organisations are part of a committee that will steer a program of recovery events and projects in bushfire-affected areas over the next year.
Mandy Black is heading the Community Recovery Projects and Events Working Group which is part of the Shire of Yarra Ranges community recovery sub-committee.
“It’s important that what we decide needs to be done comes from the community. They know best what the needs and wants are so our next meetings will be focussed on what sort of projects and events will assist,” Ms Black said.
Ms Black said many community groups were getting on with staging events, get-togethers and other activities which were aimed at bringing people together.
Information evenings have also been run by the shire including a men’s debrief, attended by 70, and a women’s wellbeing session, attended by 50.
Two more community information sessions with Christine Nixon, chairwoman of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority will be held on Wednesday 8 April at Healesville and Yarra Glen.
Ms Black said planning for the “Thanks Mate” event at the Yarra Valley Racing Centre on 26 April, was also well underway.
That event is an initiative of Victoria Police, supported by the shire and the state government to say “thank you” to emergency services and other volunteers.
“What has happened over the past weeks is that people have decided they want to get together with events to stay connected,” Ms Black said.
“Our job is looking more into three, four or six months down the track when everyone else gets on with their lives but there are still people who have been affected greatly and we want to make sure the projects and events continue and that people are not forgotten.”
Ms Black can be contacted at the Shire of Yarra Ranges, email to m.black@yarra ranges.vic.gov.au.
