Harcourt and district community members turned out at the Harcourt Leisure Centre on Sunday to have their say on the establishment of the new Harcourt and District Community Recovery Association (HADCRA).
The new association will act as an ‘umbrella organisation’ overseeing bushfire recovery efforts across the Harcourt, Harcourt North, Ravenswood South, Sutton Grange, Faraday communities and surrounds impacted by the January 9 event and its aftermath.
Right now, much of the recovery is being run by government and other agencies. They are doing important work. But the Harcourt and district community wants a bigger say in what happens, and in how it happens.
The Harcourt Recovery Thinking Group, made up of various representatives from across these communities, has met 13 times since May to brainstorm, plan and shape the purpose and model/association rules of the new association.
Sunday’s meeting aimed to vote on incorporating the new association; workshop, seek input and adopt the new rules; and open the election of candidates for the inaugural executive committee.
HADCRA had already garnered 221 committee members prior to the meeting, and several more joined on the day.
Eight nominees put their hands up for the proposed seven positions on the new association.
Those in attendance spent some time painstakingly workshopping the new association rules before they were adopted with a clear majority in favour.
There was then an opportunity to meet the candidates. Nominees included: John Baldock, Jessica Chaplin, Rob Fowler, Vera Hemkes, Colleen Marchant, Jon McKenzie, Daniel McWilliam and Bonnie Snowman. Only HADCRA members were eligible to vote in the election, with physical voting cards available on the day and an online poll accessible to all members.
Voting was scheduled to close at 2pm today, Thursday July 30, with the new HADCRA committee to be announced shortly afterwards.
The Harcourt Recovery Thinking Group will then officially handover to the new team.
Not yet a member and keen to be part of the region’s recovery? You can sign up online for free at https://forms.gle/tCPN6dXc7tvczTV48