The five free Emergency Recovery information sessions held across the community last month – funded via Council’s partnership with Emergency Recovery Victoria and hosted by Emergency Management specialists The Six C’s – produced some very favourable results, with many attendees enthusiastic to return for planned workshops in the new year.
Across November, residents of Streatham, Moyston, Willaura, Wickliffe and Lake Bolac were each delivered a three-hour evening session conducted by Mat Deans and Sue Rondeau of The Six C’s. Mat and Sue focused on relevant local knowledge to deliver tailored approaches to suit each community in its preparation for fires, floods and storms.
One long-time local resident shared with facilitators that the Information Session had prompted an important shift in his perspective. He and his wife had previously planned to stay and defend his home in the event of a bushfire but decided to reassess their plan after learning the realistic demands of property defence, and given the couple’s advanced age. Many other attendees found that their already well-developed emergency prep knowledge was supplemented by Mat and Sue’s presentation.
Other attendees were grateful for the chance to gather and connect with other residents, some meeting their neighbours for the first time. Others expressed hope that more people from their community will attend such sessions in the future, as disaster awareness is a responsibility shared by all members of the region.
The Information Sessions were scheduled to give residents practical and tailored information, improving community preparedness and resilience before, during and after disasters. Mat and Sue covered topics such as how to interpret official warnings and advice, identifying local disaster risks, and psychological preparedness.
In the early weeks of November they visited each community in which a session was scheduled, door-knocking and visiting local businesses to let residents know of the upcoming sessions and to offer advice.
“Mat and Sue’s inclusive approach and enormous wealth of first-hand experience on the front lines of emergency situations makes them fantastic facilitators for these sessions,” says Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison. “Everyone’s welcome, and everyone deserves access to assistance and information on emergency preparedness.”
Mat and Sue will return to Ararat Rural City in the new year, with workshops to develop community plans specific to each locality slated for February and March 2025.
