The Harcourt Recovery Thinking Group welcomed community members from Harcourt and surrounds impacted by the January fires to a community meeting at the Harcourt Leisure Centre on June 8 to consider a proposal focused on the next steps to recovery.
Around 100 community members attended the meeting, with another 20 tuning in via the live-stream.
The meeting marked the third gathering of the community focused on recovery since the fires five months ago, and was called to consider the formation of a new independent association to lead recovery and give voice to the community.
The Harcourt Progress Association has carried an extraordinary load since January, but agree with community (as expressed at the community meeting on April 20) that the recovery work should now sit with a new, purpose-built organisation – one that exists solely to do this job for the next three to four years.
The Thinking Group, formed of different sections of the community impacted by the fire, had met seven times in the lead up to the June meeting to develop the proposal for the new entity.
More than 30 organisations and agencies are making decisions about the Harcourt and District on behalf of the community. The Thinking Group were keen to encourage community members impacted to make their voices heard and tell these agencies what the community wants.
Inspired by the Mallacoota and Strathewen fire response, the Thinking Group proposed a new community association – Harcourt & District Community Recovery Association – to lead and drive the community’s own recovery.
Meeting facilitator David Hale welcomed everyone to the meeting and acknowledged all those who had been affected by the fires on the January 9 which was most of the people in the room in one way or another, but in particular those most impacted by those fires.
“As the months go on it gets easier and easier for other people to forget just how much devastation was caused, but I just want to acknowledge that there are still a lot of emotions and a lot that everyone is working through,” he said.
“I also want to acknowledge all the firies, the paramedics, police officers and volunteers which have supported the community. It’s been exhausting. There have been a lot of people who have gone above and beyond and we appreciate all their efforts,” he said.
Harcourt Recovery Thinking Group member Heidi Michael stepped through a recap of all the work which had been done to get to this point.
She acknowledged the incredible initial response and the relief effort. She also acknowledged the support from council and other agencies but said it was important that the community led the response moving forward.
The crowd then heard from volunteer disaster recovery mentor, Steve Pascoe, whose community and home at Strathewen were devastated by the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. He was part of a small group that initiated the Strathewen Community Recovery Association.
He has since assisted the Mallacoota community to develop their own community-led recovery approach and is also working with the communities impacted by the Longwood fires.
“We aim to provide our knowledge and advice so you don’t make the mistakes we have,” he said.
“Every community is different, the impacts are different, the way you can respond is different. The skills and resources you have at your disposal and the needs are different. So it has to be community-led,” he said.
“Forming and joining a community-led association means you can all be members and you can all have a say in how community recovery happens,” he said.
“If the association goes ahead and incorporates, it will pave the way to open a bank account, apply for grants and manage donations. It also provides legal protections to members of the association and committee. The concept is strongly supported by council and local government agencies,” he said.
There was a very positive response on the evening and the new Harcourt & District Community Recovery Association was formed.
Around 70 community members signed up on the night. The group will now take steps towards the creation of a formal committee.
A strong membership of this group is key to its success. Everyone impacted is encouraged to fill in the membership form below and have their say in electing the new committee in the coming weeks. The form can be found at https://forms.gle/JsKVeUFiVjbCfSVCA)