The communities of Bullarto, Glenlyon and Lyonville are already feeling the benefits of the Community-led Recovery Projects, with Trentham to see benefit in the coming months. Funding has been dispersed and initiatives planned by the communities are being successfully implemented.

In Bullarto the hall is experiencing what one local described as a 'social revolution'. With a new pricing structure that allows community groups to use the hall for a gold coin donation, the hall is being used more often by locals. This, and a number of events that have been made possible by Community-led Recovery funding, has promoted a sense of connectedness and cohesion in the community.

The Festival of Small Halls tour visited the hall on March 16th bringing laughter and joy to many in Bullarto. Catering and accessible ticket pricing for locals were made possible by the funding, and so too was a ukulele masterclass by Icelandic Svavar Knutur for the kids from Bullarto Primary School. The funds will support community emergency planning and preparedness activities and future events including a Bullarto Hall-CFA bush dance on 22 June, and a Spring Feast on 26 October. Sarah from the Bullarto Hall committee has said that several people have commented on the great value the project and funding have provided.

In Glenlyon things are also getting busy! A monthly community dinner takes place at the Glenlyon hall and the March dinner focused on improving community connections by celebrating neighbours. Everyone was encouraged to bring their neighbour along for the dinner and those that did, had part of their meal cost subsidised. A fabulous Glenlyon Emergency Preparedness flipchart has been developed and was launched at the dinner. Residents of Drummond and Wheatsheaf were also invited. The community dinner in May will feature a film and discussion around looking after your mental health. Sessions on chainsaw safety, CPR and emergency planning are also going to take place as part of the regular Glenlyon village markets over the next few months.

In Lyonville a web developer has been engaged to construct a Lyonville website which will have a section focusing on information to help people prepare for and recover from emergency events.

This website will also be a platform for information about community events, which will provide increased opportunities for the community to come together, connect, and build resilience. Like Glenlyon, Lyonville are designing and producing a community specific flipchart fridge magnet that will increase awareness by providing localised information in an easy to access format. In addition to this the group is conducting some research into power resilience. Workshops on fire and other emergency preparedness will take place in spring.

In Trentham a short list of priority projects has been selected based on the results of a community survey conducted late last year, with work commencing in the coming weeks. One of these projects aims to see a community activated electronic noticeboard in a central location, which will give residents the security of knowing where to get information about an emergency, as well as providing opportunities for Trentham’s many community groups to promote events and connection.

It is fantastic to see positive and practical outcomes that are already making a difference on the ground in these communities.

The Community-led Recovery Project aims to strengthen the capacity and capability of communities impacted by the storms and floods of 2021/22 by supporting them to plan for and lead their own recovery.

Working with established community groups, organisations and the impacted communities of Bullarto, Glenlyon, Lyonville and Trentham, we have identified projects, initiatives and activities to help build their recovery and resilience for past, present and future emergency events.

With three of the Community Recovery/Resilience Plans now finalised, we would like to thank all those that have supported the project and contributed to the development of the plans.

The Community-led Recovery Project is made possible through funding by Emergency Recovery Victoria and Hepburn Shire Council.

The Bullarto Community-led Recovery Project is now complete and a Community Recovery/Resilience Plan has been developed with the following projects, initiatives and actions:

1. Connection - We will create opportunities to better understand our community including those that may need support and those that can support us.

a. Develop a program of community activities and events at the Bullarto Hall incl Christmas party, Australia Day BBQ, ANZAC Day.

b. Hold a CFA-Bullarto Hall bush dance.

2. Education - We will provide opportunities for our community to have the skills and knowledge they need to be feel more confident and prepared for an emergency event

a. First aid training for 2 people to build a cohort of community first aiders for emergencies.

b. Musk CFA to hold 2 talks/workshops for individual and community emergency planning and preparedness including developing a Bullarto Hall Emergency Management Plan (EMP).

3. Resilience - We will invest in the resources needed to become better prepared and ready for future emergency events

a. Develop a flipchart resource with local emergency references, contact numbers and information to improve knowledge and awareness of resources and support available.

b. Backup electrical system hardwired into the Hall power system to provide vulnerable community members with back-up power in emergencies. To be installed on a slab and enclosed in a security cage.

The Bullarto Community Recovery/Resilience Plan will be held and implemented by the Bullarto Public Hall Committee Inc in partnership with other key stakeholders including the Bullarto Primary School.

The Glenlyon Community-led Recovery Project is now complete and a Community Recovery/Resilience Plan has been developed with the following projects, initiatives and actions:

1. Connection - We will create opportunities to better understand our community including those that may need support and those that can support us.

a. Prepare a program of community activities and events at the Glenlyon Hall to better connect the community - e.g. Festival of small halls, Play music on the Porch Day, Winter Solstice Celebration, Bush Dance, New Residents Welcome Day Neighbour Day.

2. Education - We will provide opportunities for our community to have the skills and knowledge they need to be feel more confident and prepared for an emergency event

a. Organise training sessions and workshops, in partnership with the Glenlyon CFA and surrounding communities, to develop community skills to improve confidence in an emergency - e.g. using defibrillators, generators, water pumps and chainsaws, creating a local fire guard group/phone tree and fire preparedness (incl. What is a ‘Bushfire Place of Last Resort?’)

b. Organise community talks and presentations by the Glenlyon CFA, VicSES, Red Cross Australia and/or the Salvation Army before fire season and storm season to support the development of emergency kits and plans for local households, community groups and event holders

3. Resilience - We will invest in the resources needed to become better prepared and ready for future emergency events

a. Develop a flipchart resource with local emergency references, contact numbers and information to improve knowledge and awareness of resources and support available

The Glenlyon Community Recovery/Resilience Plan will be held and implemented by the Glenlyon Progress Association & Shire Hall Committee of Management Inc in partnership with other key stakeholders including the Glenlyon CFA.

The Lyonville Community-led Recovery Project is now complete and a Community Recovery/Resilience Plan has been developed with the following projects, initiatives and actions:

1. Connection - We will create opportunities to better understand our community including those that may need support and those that can support us.

a. Support the development of more local fire guard groups or phone trees

2. Education - We will provide opportunities for our community to have the skills and knowledge they need to be feel more confident and prepared for an emergency event

a. Organise training sessions and workshops to develop community skills and knowledge in topics such as how to assemble emergency kits (i.e. ‘Build your own emergency kit’), writing household emergency plans (incl plans for pets and livestock),insurance options for rural properties, how to use a generator/chainsaw/fire pump/defibrillator as well as basic first aid skills, mental health first aid and knowing where to go locally that is safe in an emergency

3. Resilience - We will invest in the resources needed to become better prepared and ready for future emergency events

a. Develop a flipchart resource with local emergency references, contact numbers and information to improve knowledge and awareness of resources and support available.

b. Support the new community website (https://lyonville.org.au/) and create an ‘emergency information’ page with localise information and links.

c. Explore other options for locally owned ‘off-grid’ power source (i.e. solar, wind).

The Lyonville Community Recovery/Resilience Plan will be held and implemented by the Lyonville Community Planning Group Inc.

Based on feedback received from local community members and organisations, a survey was undertaken to assist with the development of a Trentham Community Recovery/Resilience Plan.

The survey received 35 responses with the following projects, initiatives and activities suggested to help the Trentham community recover from, and be more resilient to, emergency events:

• Holding workshops, public talks, training and drop-in sessions on how to develop personal emergency and/or evacuation plans and creating emergency kits, preparing your property, using generators and chainsaws and what to do when power/phone/internet is unavailable
• Creating a resource of local information and support services available following an emergency (i.e. flipchart magnet, brochure or booklet)
• Having information stands in town on how to be better prepared and ready for different emergency events throughout the year

We are continuing to work with members of the Trentham community as well as the Trentham CFA to determine next steps including who will hold and implement the plan on behalf of the community.