Our Response to the Bushfires pulling together
Being part of a rural community brings unique challenges , opportunities and responsibilities . Services are thin on the ground , distances are great and recruitment of trained professionals is not always easy . But when you are part of a rural community , you really see the benefits of people pulling together .
In the aftermath of Black Saturday , we were asked to become part of the Victorian Bushfire Case Management Service . This meant recruiting 45 case managers , setting up new offices , establishing new systems , purchasing cars , laptops and mobile phones , and ensuring that our case managers had access to the support , supervision and professional development they needed to carry out their demanding roles .
Six months on , there are green shoots in many of the trees and steps are being taken to rebuild those communities devastated by the fires .
The number and breadth of our community activities are too great to cover here , but includes : -
• Distributing $ 10,000 worth of Easter Eggs .
• Regular volunteering to cut and deliver 800 tons of wood so far this Winter .
• A cook ’ s night off , where volunteers in Thornton prepare and deliver meals to 50 families who haven ’ t got cooking facilities .
• A number of art exhibitions and artists visiting local schools .
• Events focusing on the rejuvenation of mind and body .
• Arranging the replacement of significant personal items such as a Hawthorn Football Club jumper and war medals for people who lost everything .
• Running an ELF ( Early Learning is Fun ) community reading day in Whittlesea and our biggest ever ELF reading day in Alexandra .
• Arranging the delivery of a shipping container so the Sweet Shop in Marysville could re-open .
• Providing an auspice for local community groups without not for profit status .
Below is some of the very positive feedback we have received :
“ Our case manager has been fantastic following up all those bits and pieces it ’ s hard to find time for when your life has been thrown into chaos and you ’ re still trying to work and raise a family .”
“ We now have open communication lines . We have been isolated until now and are finally being made aware of what extra help is available to us .”
“ Our case manager has helped us through this traumatic time with professional skill and kindness and helped us cope with this difficult time .”
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