Liz Millman and Tyler Wright
Olinda Community House welcomed locals for the first ’Storm Stories’ community session last week, held on Friday mornings by the Hills Creative Alliance (HCA) from 10.30am to 12.00pm.
The weekly informal meetings provide an opportunity for local people to meet up and to hear from some of the organisations who have helped communities in the Hills since last year’s June storm.
“People value the opportunity to have chats together and explain what has happened to [locals] and where they’re at on the journey of the rebuild,” HCA Secretary Liz Millman said.
“We were also looking at how we can support the development of community contingency plans.”
Liz said the President of the Belgrave Rotary Club, Gus Rozycki, spoke about the significant contribution from Rotary District 9810 that has helped a number of local groups and supported storm recovery efforts.
He also discussed other ways that Rotary International may be able to help the communities across the Hills in the forthcoming months.
Kalorama Collective Chairperson Nia Beardsley spoke at the first event, detailing how local folks came together to support others in the community when families were coping with no power and damaged homes. Members of the group found ways to provide hot food and supplies to the community quickly after the storm and now hold monthly dinners on the first Tuesday each month at Olinda Community House as part of the Dandenong Ranges’ storm recovery.
Volunteers from the ‘Cuppa and Chat’ session at St Michael’s Hall in Kalorama recalled how much the consistent efforts of the team there have been valued. The sessions at St Michael’s Hall, continue on Tuesdays now from 12.30 to 4.00 with a warm welcome and the offer of soup now the days are getting colder, and there was also a reminder that the cupboards of food and other essentials are still being replenished for those folks who are still finding things challenging.
The ‘Plastic Bag Free Dandenong Ranges’ group provided a range of beautiful Boomerang Bags sewn by local volunteers, who get together every Wednesday at the Environmental Education Centre at Birdland Reserve. An invitation was extended to join in their friendly sessions. Check Facebook: Plastic Bag Free Dandenong Ranges, for more information and updates.
Liz also said the HCA, along with other local groups, has been working on creative ways to support those who experienced the storm.
“Denise Rash, Masters student in Therapeutic Arts practices, is supporting the HCA community art exhibition ‘Reflections of the Storm’ which will be held during June and July at the Kawarra Gardens Yarra Ranges Storm Recovery Centre,” she said.
The Hills Creative Alliance have paired with The Kalorama Collective to organise the ‘Hills Regrowth and Renewal Community Festival’ The festival is supported by a Yarra Ranges Council grant to be held at Kalorama Oval as recognition of the healing ceremony led by local elder Murandindi last July.
The HCA’s ‘Storm Stories’ sessions continue on Fridays with refreshments and the chance to chat on offer.
On Friday 13 May a speaker from Anglicare will be explaining the support they can offer and the following week Parks Victoria will talk about the challenges they face in making the National Park and gardens safe again.
To join, call Olinda Community House on a Friday morning or contact the Hills Creative Alliance for more information.
If you are interested in sharing your artwork or stories of the storm at the HCA Community Exhibition: email: lizmillman@yahoo.co.uk
