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Community Recovery Committees (CRCs) are the local representative groups who work to keep local voices, know-how and expertise front and centre during recovery planning and delivery. With 56 per cent of our municipality burnt in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire events these representative groups have become a crucial part of a community-centred recovery in the region.
Taking this place based, community-centred approach aims to ensure that projects, grants, and support programs developed with community, and funded by government are the right fit for that community.
What a CRC is called and how it is established differs from district to district and CRCs will be at different stages along their journey. That's OK – it’s what community-centred recovery is all about.
These groups aim to represent their communities at both a district and locality level. Each has developed differently, some from existing groups and others who have established new committees.
If you are interested in learning about the CRC for your district, contact your Place Manager.
As part of our commitment to supporting communities in their recovery using a place, partnership, and community-centered approach, we have a team of seven Place Managers and a great team of community recovery support staff who support:
As CRCs and other community-centred processes evolve, this section of our website will be the place to find updates about community-centred recovery in fire-affected communities and how you can get in touch and involved.
District Recovery Updates
We have developed District Recovery Updates to provide information specific to local bushfire impacted areas. These updates are distributed through existing local channels to provide recovery updates and relevant information to those who need it most.
Recovery-specific information is available through community newsletters and social media, My Council My Community online monthly newsletter, and Council’s Facebook page.
We acknowledge that recovery is a long-term process, and we will continue to support our communities.”
Dr Robert Gordon is a clinical psychologist who has dedicated his career to helping traumatised communities recover after disaster. Below are two of his most recent sessions recorded in Sarsfield and Mallacoota.
Place Manager - Liz Dorsett
Email: ElizabethD@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
District Recovery Updates
Sarsfield Community Recovery Committee
The Sarsfield Community Association has been established, along with three subcommittees for Health and Wellbeing/Events, Infrastructure and Environment. The main committee is meeting monthly. They are continuing to work on their community recovery plan and encourage community input as they work through this process. If any community members are interested in getting involved please contact Simon Hof on the email address below.
Website: www.sarsfield.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SRRCommunity
Email: president@sarsfield.com.au
Bruthen and District Community Recovery Committee
The Bruthen and District CRC was formally elected at the AGM of the Bruthen District Citizens Association (BDCA) at the end of July 2020 as a sub-committee of the long-standing representative group. The CRC is open to any interested community members to share their aspirations, ideas and expertise:
Email: bruthendistrictcrc@gmail.com
Place Manager - Rachel Eastman
Email: RachelE@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
Buchan and Gelantipy Districts Renewal Association
The Buchan, Gelantipy and Districts Renewal Association Incorporated was established in direct response to the Black Summer bushfires. There are 11 community members that make up the Committee determined through a community nomination and election process.
Interested people with a connection to the Buchan District are encouraged to join as a member.
The Committee has been developing the Community Recovery Plan.
Website: www.buchandistrictsrenewal.com.au
Email: bganddra@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/235203110897841/files/files
Wairewa Community Recovery Committee
The Wairewa Community Recovery Committee is a representative group of and for their community. They have been planning and implementing recovery projects not only to re-establish the community but also to build resilience. They have successfully completed almost all of their recovery priority projects.
Email: wairewacrc@gmail.com
District Recovery Updates
Buchan District Recovery Update December 2022
Buchan District Recovery Update September 2022
Buchan District Recovery Update June 2022
Buchan District Recovery Update May 2022
Buchan District Recovery Update March 2022
Place Manager - Paula Jorgensen
Email: paulaj@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
The Community Recovery Sub-committee meets monthly and is an offshoot of the District Representative Group which formed in 2019 to work on the Errinundra to Snowy District Community Plan.
Other sub committees re-established to assist with recovery are:
The committee provides broad representation of the district's communities and specific interests of the entire region and to individual localities. It offers an ongoing health and wellbeing service through outreach services and where possible telehealth. All committee members are long-term residents committed to the betterment and sustainability of the area.
Place Manager - Eva Grunden
Email: EvaG@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
Cann Valley District
The Cann Valley District Representative Group (CVDRG) meets regularly to hear community needs and voice those needs to appropriate agency channels.
The group created their District Community Plan in 2019, and have continued to use this plan as the basis for their recovery planning, including the recovery priorities identified through consultation with their communities.
Mallacoota District
The Mallacoota and District Recovery Association (MADRA) is tasked with ensuring a community-led recovery process is being taken in Mallacoota and surrounding towns.
Website: www.madrecovery.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MADRA2020
Email: madra.3892@gmail.com
Place Manager - Helen Sheil
Email: HelenS@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
District Recovery Updates
The eight-person Omeo Region Community Recovery Association voices its community’s needs in recovery.
Email: admin@orcra.org.au
Place Manager - Kath MacDonald
Email: kathrynm@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
Orbost District
The Orbost District Community Recovery and Transition Committee (ODCRTC) was formed through a community expression of interest process. Members are from many parts of the district.
Email: secretaryODCRTC@gmail.com
Clifton Creek Community Recovery Team
The Clifton Creek Community Recovery Team (CCCRT) has been established with a diverse representation of people in the community, including 12 members and a further eight affiliate members made up of representatives of the five associations located in Clifton Creek and interested community members. All welcome.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Clifton-Creek-Community
Email: cliftoncreekcommunity@gmail.com
Dr. Rob Gordon's session at Club Terrace
Dr. Rob Gordon's session for Clifton Creek Community
Dr. Rob Gordon's Session for Orbost community
Mallacoota - Economic Recovery Forum video link
BRV YouTube Channel - Dr. Rob Gordon video resources for support
Fire progression slideshow 21 Dec 2019-21 Feb 2020
University of Melbourne 10 Years Beyond Bushfires Report
Webinars
How Houses are Destroyed by Bushfire
How to Harden an Existing House
Getting your Insurance Right - Panel of Insurance Representatives
Bushfire Recovery Videos
Cr John White, Mayor East Gippsland Shire Council
Anne Richardson, President Great Alpine Gallery Swifts Creek
Blanche Evans, Council Emergency Management Officer
Andrew Collier, baker Seasalt Sourdough Swan Reach
Alan Rice, Kevin Dean and Barry Newcomen, community recovery
Stuart McConnell, Council's General Manager Bushfire Recovery
Jo Andrews and Kevser Tuncer, Sarsfield community recovery
We produced 58 bushfire newsletters. If you would like to request copies, please contact us.
All community meetings that were recorded including incident updates, trauma sessions with clinical psychologist Rob Gordon and Grocon clean-up, are available on our YouTube channel.