By Tyler Wright
A plan to create a communal veggie garden and an outdoor meal and seating area for locals in 2023 by has received an $8,000 injection from Yarra Ranges Council’s latest round of Grants for Community.
Kalorama Collective treasurer Paige Kelsall said the funds would be put towards organising skills-based events or social gatherings for locals, and a space to hold emergency response equipment and extra furniture to hire near Kalorama Oval.
Ms Kelsall said the Kalorama Collective has helped more than 500 residents since the June 2021 storm event, holding monthly community dinners, which have until now been entirely self-funded by the group.
“With the funding we can we can provide good food, some entertainment, really enhancing the space for people to get together,” Ms Kelsall said.
“It’s a high risk bushfire area, and now as we know that with storms, it’s really important that people know who is living near them, and what their needs might be,” Ms Kelsall said.
Ms Kelsall said with some people still not in their homes after the storm event and battling with insurance, it can help to provide a space of social support.
“I think it’s reassuring for people to know that there is a group or a space that they’ll be able to come to and connect to those people again,” Ms Kelsall said.
“Because after the storm, as horrible as it was, everyone got together and spent a lot of time together at the oval, sharing meals and talking, and it was reliable….so with the community dinners, it’s providing that ongoing connection.”
Ms Kelsall said an ultimate goal of the Kalorama Collective is to create a permanent, versatile space for the community with internet access, a kitchen and rooms.
“Things will change and evolve, more people will come in, and then you get different ideas [and] different projects to look at,” she said.
